Help Asheville's Recovery
Summit Coffee Co. in the River Arts District post-hurricane. Image by Mario Tama/Getty Images.
For months and years to come, Asheville will need massive support to recover from Hurricane Helene. (In case you missed it, here’s my Asheville Love Story.)
In this post, I’m sharing:
Three places to donate for immediate aid
Asheville businesses, makers, artists, and healers to consider supporting with your holiday shopping (and beyond)
Three Worthy Ways to Make Immediate Impact:
Wild Abundance Disaster Relief Fund
This magical farm school specializes in carpentry, earth skills, and permaculture. They sprang into action repairing homes and building foot bridges across damaged roads. One friend says, “The woman who owns Wild Abundance was on the ground running meetings today in Barnardsville. She’s a badass community organizer. I would trust money going very locally here.”
Beloved Asheville
For years, this organization has been on the ground providing affordable housing and care to Asheville’s underserved communities. They intimately know the hardest-hit neighborhoods, and they are bringing shelter, water, food, clothes, internet, and stuffed animals to those who need it most. They’re even organizing volunteer hikers to check on people in the mountains who can’t get out and have SOS signs in their windows. Check out their IG page—it’s beyond inspiring.
Relief for Asheville's RAD Artists & Employees
Asheville’s fabulous River Arts District (RAD) was tragically flooded to the roofs, destroying cherished businesses and dozens of art studios very close to my heart. This cuts so deep. I’ve been in touch with the organizer of this fundraiser—she’s giving $500 cash to individual RAD artists and employees who have lost their livelihoods. She currently has more applications than funds to give—this is a very worthy cause with direct impact.
Want more options? Here’s a crowd-sourced list of resources and needs by category: https://ashevillerelief.com/.
A Gift Guide to Support Asheville
Businesses
East Fork Pottery - A local, ethical Asheville company and a big employer in the area. 5% of sales go to hurricane relief. Their iconic Everyday Bowl comes in great earthy colors.
French Broad Chocolates - I sadly stopped eating chocolate because of my migraines, but this place is wonderful and had significant losses from the flood. Their hot chocolate set is one of Oprah's favorite things!
Herbiary - Asheville-based shop for all things herbal healing. Most herbs bought here come from the region. I'm in love with these archetypal anointing oils by Asheville maker River Island Apothecary - especially "Queen."
Asheville Bee Charmer - One of my favorite stores in Asheville has temporarily closed their retail locations. Their honey is transcendent. This six-pack sampler would make a superb gift (sourwood and blackberry are my favs).
Malaprop's Bookstore - The epic local bookstore that needs patronage to stay afloat after the storm. One of their super fun "undercover" books would be a great gift for a book-lover.
Artists
Horse and Hero - My favorite print shop featuring Appalachian artists. Many of these artists lost their studio spaces and artwork in the flood. This print would look lovely above a dresser.
Abacus Corvus Artwork - A pair of local siblings who sells prints of their witchy animal and wilderness paintings. I like The Moon is Always Full.
Lexington Glass Works - An Asheville studio that makes gorgeous blown glass and custom light fixtures. This peacock vase set, holy wow.
Suze Corte - My mom thankfully didn't have any material losses from the hurricane, but she's my favorite Asheville artist, so I had to include her! She recently listed a fresh batch of colorful paintings for sale. Hard to choose, but this is my favorite.
Creators and Healers
Chi Young Kim - Chi is a dear friend who was impacted by the hurricane. She's a gifted ancestral healing practitioner, and I'm forever changed by our exquisitely powerful one-on-one ancestral sessions. I highly recommend working with her.
Jaime Fleres - Jaime is another dear friend impacted by the hurricane. Take her amazing somatic healing class (highly recommend) or a book writing or publishing class. I've also benefited from Jaime's superb book coaching services.
Asia Suler - Asia is an herbalist and teacher who lost her business, One Willow Apothecary, in the hurricane. Support her by donating directly or taking an online class (I have my eye on Herbs for Personal Power).
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