As our neighbors continue to rebuild, we hope those who can and want to donate will contribute to the many people, places and spaces that make our area so special and organizations continuing to do amazing work to help repair and rebuild.
Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa is a vital community hub, they put together a comprehensive resource of Mutual Aid/Grassroot Fundraising for WNC.
Heilbron Herbs
Sari's studio in downtown Marshall was swallowed under an unprecedented 27 ft storm surge destroying everything in its wake. While she was able to move some of her inventory before the storm, she has lost her studio and everything in it. Sari's home was also severely damaged and she is still without running water or power in the area. We love you, Sari!
The Village Potters / Juno Pottery
The Village Potters Clay Center was a thriving creative community; a 14,000 square foot facility with studios, galleries and teaching center that touched the lives of so many people. Along with many in the River Arts District, filled with over 26 ft of water, they lost their entire facility.
Juno Pottery, a studio potter in Asheville, also suffered a great loss during Hurricane Helene. Her space, Southside Studios near the Swannanoa River, flooded completely ruining tools, equipment and materials.
ROAR / Butter Sop Rd community on 19W / South Toe Volunteer Fire Dept. / Acme Aero - Essential Aid Airdop
The hardest hit areas are often times the hardest to reach communities in WNC. Emergency responders have been working around the clock to clear roads, deliver supplies, provide wellness checks, and rescue at risk individuals. The mountain communities of North Carolina have been devastated. Many areas are inaccessible due to severe flooding, landslides, and downed trees, leaving residents cut off from crucial supplies like food, water, and medical aid.
Pollen / High Five Coffee / OWL Bakery / Cooperative Coffee / Farewell / Rite Rite
Many of our favorite coffee shops are raising funds to keep their staff and doors open. Some folks are displaced, cars and homes totaled and some have already been rejected from FEMA relief.
Brother Wolf
The Brother Wolf animal rescue shelter has been flooded due to the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene. Donations are critical as donors are matching gifts up to $850,000 right now, making anything you donate twice as impactful.
WildFlowers Vintage
Rafi, a beloved member of our community and owner of WildFlowers in Asheville’s River Arts District, lost his shop, wiping away years of hard work, passion, and dedication. Donations will help replace lost inventory, secure temporary housing, providing reliable transportation and cover basic living expenses during this challenging time.
The Depot
Another beloved space in Marshall, NC. The Depot was a community hub for music and gatherings that brought people together, fostering so much connection. The building was completely lost and rebuilding will restore not just a space for music, but the heart of Marshall's cultural identity. They are asking for help with the reconstruction and replacement of essential equipment.
Noodle Hole
This spot in Marshall just opened and now needs help setting up a mobile kitchen to cook for all the people that are working on relief efforts in the downtown area. Recovery venmo - @noodle_hole
AVL Community Bail
Asheville Community Bail reports that people are in Buncombe County Detention Center (BCDC) cells with non-flushing (full) toilets and have had potable water heavily restricted (below both the FEMA recommended and minimum daily amounts during a disaster), are lacking showers, change of clothes and bedding. Video calls have been limited and at times completely denied. Help release people in BCDC being held in dire conditions who are pre-trial on secured bonds immediately so they're not subjected to inhumane conditions.
Open Doors Asheville
Open Doors builds relationships and connections between individuals, families, neighborhoods, organizations, and local businesses. Equity and inclusion are the center of their work. Tropical storm Helene has devastated our community, leaving thousands without power, running water or communication and trapped on impassable roads. Open Doors Asheville is asking for help to ensure that all necessary supplies are reaching the families on their roster.
Poder Emma
The Emma Community is an incredibly vibrant, united and strong community. Through their participation in Colaborativa La Milpa, Poder Emma has supported with immediate disaster relief, including food and water distribution to nearly 30,000 people in the first two weeks following Hurricane Helene. As the community moves into the long haul work of recovery and relief, Poder Emma will focus on providing emergency home repair to the community - while at the same time staying committed to all of their ongoing work of preventing displacement.
Asheville Angels / Elderflower Community
Asheville and Buncombe County has a large percentage of senior citizens, homebound individuals, solo agers, and people who may not be able to access disaster relief resources independently. In Buncombe County, 45% of people 65+ live alone and 32% live with a disability—much higher than the national average.
Asheville Angels aims to bridge that need by connecting senior citizens in need to able-bodied volunteers who will deliver food, water, medication (or whatever they most need) once a day or as frequently as possible.
Elderflower Community was ready to open their new holistic eldercare farm-based community in beautiful Fairview and instead their space was under 10 ft of water. They are asking for help to rebuild.
DayTrip
DayTrip, along with so many other small businesses along the French Broad River, was completely destroyed. As everyone is trying to navigate through the slow process of insurance claims, the bills are still coming due, and the employees have no income until they rebuild. Brandon and Davie used their life savings and took out a large business loan to get this dream of theirs started. In all, they put over $180,000 into this business and are now facing the daunting task of rebuilding from the ground up.
Neng Jr.'s / Tall Johns / Bull & Beggar / Finch Grocery /Zadie's and Old Marshall Jail / Leo's House of Thirst / Double Crown, Lazy Diamond, Pink Moon, Strange Magic / Crucible
Most of these spots aren't able to operate until water gets restored and some spaces have had extensive damages. These are a handful of the places we frequent for nourishment, for community, for social connection. They are asking for help to support their staff while out of work for an uncertain amount of time.
Valerie in Beacon Village / Wood Family in Beacon Village
Many homes in Swannanoa neighborhood Beacon Village had water up to the roofs. There are countless families in need of support who lost everything. Please read Valerie's experience and send your support, her detailed account of the hurricane and flooding is so touching and incredibly heart breaking and heart mending all at once.
Hasee and Abby in Cove Creek
Hasee and Abby lost their home in Cove Creek; destroyed by high winds, fallen trees, and a landslide. Their home, a gathering place for music, food and dance, was pushed completely off its foundation. It is currently uninhabitable and structurally unsound and will likely be deemed a total loss.
Support Hairdressers and Stylists in WNC
Greenhouse's Dre Donoghue along with The Left Brain Group and Asheville residents have organized a raffle and a fundraiser for the Hairdressers of Asheville and the Western North Carolina region who have been deeply affected by Hurricane Helene. Many salons have suffered severe damage, and with relief efforts still underway, their futures remain uncertain.