Here's How You Can Help Western North Carolina in Wake of Hurricane Helene
After tragedy struck a region, grassroots organizations are stepping up.
Wes Hicks
Last October, we started writing a love letter to the mountains and people of Western North Carolina, a book centered on the region’s singular tradition of art and craft. We worked alongside potters, chefs, writers and thru-hikers who told us the story of this special corner of Appalachia.
We’re heartsick as we see the devastation coming out of North Carolina’s western counties.
People on the ground are working tirelessly to create stability for their neighbors and communities among the damage. Blue Ridge Public Radio has compiled a great list of ways to help now; please join us in supporting relief efforts by getting much-needed resources to the right places, including the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund and BeLoved Asheville. Many more, including hyper-local mutual aid groups, are listed below.
As for our book, we’ll be thinking through the best way we can make it an asset to the people of that region—more to come on that front.
In the meantime, we asked around and learned about some great relief efforts and information sources for the people in Blue Ridge country. This list includes statewide organizations along with grassroots and hyper-local mutual aid groups addressing the most critical needs.
Hurricane Helene Relief Organizations
BeLoved Asheville: Venmo funds collection for rapid response mobilization, moving people to higher ground and providing safe spaces.
Craft Emergency Relief Fund: Relief grants and funds to craft artists in WNC.
Hearts with Hands: Food and essentials to Buncombe County shelters.
Manna FoodBank: Providing food with hope and dignity to people experiencing hunger.
Community Housing Coalition of Madison County: Funding emergency home repairs for Helene victims in Madison County.
Appalachians4Appalachia: Aggregates financial contributions to support flood response and recovery efforts; they have a specific fund for Helene.
@Yousef-N, @Catherine-siravantha, @nourlotfy: Running supplies into Asheville and surrounding towns.
@AppMedSolid: Flood and storm repair for communities facing long term damage.
@Arulu-Gallagher: Feeding neighbors in need.
@PANSYCOLLECTIVE: Venmo for on the ground mutual aid hurricane relief and supply collection.
North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund: All donations will go to nonprofits working to meet the immediate needs of storm victims such as food and water, cleaning supplies and other emergency supplies. All of the donations made will go to disaster relief.
Hurricane Helene WNC: Allocate direct support to communities that are isolated and cut off from being able to access resources.
Humane Society Disaster Relief: Emergency relief for animals.
Blue Ridge Public Radio is adding donation resources and other contacts regularly.
