Unique Ways to Help WNC + Beyond
I am proud to call WNC home. I am proud to watch how this community has come together, but we will need help to rebuild ❤️🩹 Here are a few ways you can help the places that so many hold dear.
Hurricanes don’t hit the mountains like this. Not until now. My mind is still reeling from the impact of Hurricane Helene. Every morning I wake up grappling with my choices. All I want to do is help, have my boots on the ground … but sometimes the best thing I can do is go to work so I can continue to help from where I can.
It’s a daily struggle that I assume will plague me for the next few months. How can I help my beloved small towns of WNC + beyond?
In a situation like this, I feel somewhat useless. I don’t have the essential skills of a tradeswoman, I have very basic medical skills (FA/CPR), and I definitely have no idea how to work heavy machinery. I only allowed myself to feel this way temporarily before jumping feet first into the skills I do have - writing, social media, + over-researching the shit out of something.
What blossomed out of the desire to help using the skills I have, is the compilation of resources below: comprehensive resources put together by others, places to donate, unique ways to help + support, and a little tribute at the end, to some of my favorite small towns that were affected.
It’s not going to make it all better or solve everything, but hopefully this will direct those who want to give or learn more or plan future travel to support these places when they’re recovered, a starting point. I do plan to continue updating this page as I find more resources to share.
Thank you for reading. & thank you for supporting these amazing places that have my heart.
Resources with LOTS of Great Information
So as to not remake (or in this case, rewrite) the wheel, I am sharing some great resources that others have created that I will label accordingly so you know which link will best fit your needs.
NCTripping’s How to Help Western NC Relief and Recovery Efforts - this page shares a variety of orgs accepting donations + animal rescues
NCTripping’s How To Support Helene Small Towns/Businesses - this is a detailed page that shares how to support the small towns + businesses in WNC listed county by county.
The Trek: Guide to Hurricane Helene Resources and Needs for Rural Communities - this is a great list that not only includes WNC but also includes many of the Appalachian Trail towns that were affected by Helene
Romantic Asheville: Hurricane Helene Impact and Recovery in Asheville and Western NC - this page includes links to travel information for specific WNC counties, national forest info, places to donate by town/area, and resources for WNC locals.
Places to Donate
This list includes organizations I have personally donated to, volunteered with (or Barbie has), OR I have seen others in the WNC community share that these specific organizations have boots on the ground and are helping.
*This list not comprehensive and I will add more as I find other great options.
Unique Ways to Help
It is so important to donate to the bigger relief efforts, but it’s also extremely important to help the little guys - the amazing small businesses, artisans, restaurants, etc. that make these towns so magical.
& I think there’s a lot of unique ways you can support these small businesses in recovery efforts besides just general donations. That’s what this list entails. Unique ways to support those in recovery, to support from afar, and to keep the magic funded (+ alive) in WNC.
Support WNC Bookshops through Bookshop.org or Binc Foundation
Some WNC bookstores to support on Bookshop.org
Sassafras on Sutton (Black Mountain, NC)
Plott Hound Books (Burnsville, NC)
Highland Books (Brevard, NC)
Thornwell Books (Morganton, NC)
Blue Ridge Books (Waynesville, NC)
Firestorm Books (Asheville, NC)
City Lights Bookstore (Sylva, NC)
Narrative Books (Murphy, NC)
Cozy & Content (Franklin, NC)
A Novel Escape (Franklin, NC)
There are so many other amazing small bookstores in WNC, those listed above are just the ones on Bookshop.org.
Purchase gift cards to your favorite impacted restaurants or stores to use at a later date
Buy a meal for someone in need through your favorite restaurant - not every restaurant is doing this, but if they are it is a great way to support from afar
Buy online from your favorite stores - if they don’t usually sell online, if you see something on their social media you like, they would probably be willing to ship it to you
Support your favorite hotels by sponsoring a room for a local or a relief worker
Directly support your favorite places - reach out and see if they have a GoFundMe or Venmo. If they’re a pizza place, donate as if you were buying a pizza for dinner (or donate more if you can)
One of my favorite WNC pizza places, Pie on the Mountain in Lansing, NC was heavily impacted by Helene. They have a GoFundMe open to rebuild and this is an example of a spot I’ll be supporting when I’m craving pizza - I’ll support one of my favorite spots to reopen.
Support Small Artisans
Toe River Arts Disaster Recovery Fund for Mitchell and Yancey Artists
Blue Ridge Artisan Market - Support Creative Resilience for Appalachian Makers
Shop by location on Etsy - put in an area that was impacted and support artisans from that area
Shop art markets (in general) but shop ones that are hosting WNC makers impacted by Helene
When Christmas & Holiday shopping this season, buy gifts/experiences/gift cards from small businesses who were affected by Helene
Make it a goal this holiday season to shop a certain number of gifts from WNC artisans
Attend events where the funds go to support Hurricane Helene Relief
Concert for Carolina - tickets seemed slim last I checked
Why I love these small towns❤️🩹
On the Saturday after Helene hit, Barbie and I finally made it to town for supplies. Barbie waited in the line that stood down the Food Lion aisle while I went to the car. It was my first time having enough service to check the internet + social media. I sat and I scrolled and I sobbed. All of the places I hold closest to my heart, destroyed. All of my favorite little pockets of WNC, all the hidden gem small towns, decimated. And not just WNC but the Appalachian Trail towns too. My heart cracked.
Small towns have always had my heart. There is something so special about the magic they hold. The small towns that make up WNC and the Appalachian Trail are a huge part of what makes those communities special - without them, these places aren’t the same.
There are so many small towns that were impacted by Helene, but these are some of the ones I hold nearest and dearest to my heart and a little bit about why I love them. Because if more people love them from my words then maybe one day, they’ll get to experience their magic too.
If you’re feeling so inclined, I have also included links to donate to help each of these specific towns.
Boone, NC - Even before I was a student at Appalachian State University, this area had a hold on me. My family had been visiting Boone since before I could even walk. But after being a student, after living here full time, I’ve truly come to appreciate the magic this town holds. From the people, to the unique shops, to the mountains, and beyond, Boone is a special place.
Blowing Rock, NC - My mom says it best when she says that Blowing Rock isn’t really a town, it’s a village. This is the perfect description of downtown Blowing Rock. It is quaint, picturesque, and lovely no matter the time of year. I am lucky to call this area home. Downtown Blowing Rock fared okay in the storm and its downtown shops are open for business - please go support them.
Todd, NC - Todd is an adorable small town where if you blink, you might miss it. Despite its size, Todd is made up of a great community and some amazing small businesses - including RiverGirl (a great spot to go tubing) and the Todd Mercantile (the best spot to stop for a treat while on a bike ride). It is located right by the South Fork of the New River so it got hit pretty hard, but their community has come together so that everything will be up and running again soon.
Lansing, NC - Not as well known as Boone, Blowing Rock, or West Jefferson, Lansing is a hidden gem of a small town. What it lacks in size it makes up for in character ❤️ Everywhere you go in Lansing from their iconic pizza spot Pie on the Mountain to their adorable Old Orchard Creek General store makes you feel like you’ve been visiting this small town your entire life. Lansing was hit hard and isn’t as well known as some of the bigger towns in the area - please support them in recovering if you can.
Hot Springs, NC - Hot Springs is one of the cute towns that you get to walk thru when hiking the Appalachian Trail. Besides Hot Springs being an adorable small town along the AT, it holds a special place in my heart because this is where Barbie and I started dating on our trail journey. It had an adorable general store, bakery, coffee shop, delicious pizza, fun breweries - a gem of a town. It resides next to the French Broad River which tore through the town during Helene 💔
Old Fort, NC - When we were kids, my sister and I used to jokingly call this town “Old Fart” as we drove by the sign. But this town is far from that and is one of my favorites for a day trip from home. With beautiful trails for hiking + biking, adorable eateries + cafes, and just being an all around fun town, please give this town a visit when they are ready.
Black Mountain, NC - I can’t quite put my finger on exactly what makes the town of Black Mountain so magical but every time I visit, it feels like something out of a Hallmark movie. The drive there, the mountains, the crisp air, the unique + cute shops, one of my favorite little bookstores Sassafras on Sutton, I can’t get enough of this magical little town.
Chimney Rock, NC - Before I talk about what I love about Chimney Rock, please know this lovely little town was basically wiped off the map. They are going to rebuild but they need your help. Please consider donating or spreading the word. I have only been to Chimney Rock once and when you visit you can tell how much people love this little town. It’s special and I hope one day it will come back better than it ever was.
Banner Elk, NC - Home of the Woolly Worm Festival (one of my favorite fall festivals), home of friends, cute shops + restaurants, and some of my favorite coffee shops, Banner Elk is a quaint little town that is one of my favorite spots for a day trip. Banner Elk (and the rest of Avery County) suffered severely from the effects of Hurricane Helene and could use any help you can give.
Little Switzerland, NC - Though only about a street long, Little Switzerland gave the quintessential small town vibes no matter the season you visited. With a cafe, bookstore, general store, inn, + a post office though this town wasn’t big, it held a lot of magic.
Linville, NC / Crossnore, NC - Linville is another small town that often gets overshadowed by bigger towns but holds a lot of magic. There isn’t much to Linville but what this small town does have (even though it's spread out) is a lot of wonderful small businesses and natural areas that so many enjoy year-round.
Beech Mtn, NC - Beech Mountain is not only the highest town on the East Coast but also one of the cutest. Beech is known for its winter skiing and snowboarding but the town itself is storybook charming no matter what time of year you visit. I love going up there to ski in the winter but I also adore their general store, Fred’s and the variety of hiking trails hidden up in the mountains.
Spruce Pine, NC - I have never spent a full day trip to Spruce Pine (which makes me so sad now) but I have stopped for morning bevvies Fox & the Fig, breakfast at DT’s Blue Ridge Java, eaten at restaurants after a day of studio touring on the Toe River Arts Studio tour - needless to say I love spending time in this town and the magic it adds to WNC.
Burnsville, NC - I’ve only been to Burnsville once but it was so memorable that I think about the spots in this town often. Like some of the best cheesecake I’ve ever eaten at their local coffee shop Appalachian Java. Or Burnsville Candle Company that has one of my favorite Frankincense & Myrrh candles I’ve ever burned. The adorable used bookstore where I filled a bag of books on my last trip. I love this little town and I hope it comes back thriving.
Asheville, NC - Asheville is no small town, but it is a spot I love in WNC that was deeply affected by Helene. I love Asheville, it’s where I go when I want to go somewhere bigger but still has mountain vibes. The city-esque vibe, the variety of people, the art scene, the unique bookstores, the delicious food, the cozy coffee shops, the board game cafe where a friend and I take day trips - Asheville is a special spot and there’s nowhere quite like it. Many parts of Asheville were destroyed or decimated - so much of this beautiful city is in need of repair. Please, if you can consider donating to one of the many organizations helping to rebuild Asheville.
Damascus, VA - Before I ever stepped foot on the Appalachian Trail or had any dreams to hike it, I was already in love with Trail Town USA. My family had chosen to enjoy and bike the Virginia Creeper Trail when I was a kid. And from then on this town was magical to me. When I decided I wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail, I fell in love with this town all over again. It holds such a special place in my heart and so many other individuals. And if you’ve ever rode or walked thru it, you know why ❤️🩹
Erwin, TN - One of my favorite towns along the southern portion of the Appalachian Trail, Erwin, TN also holds a special spot in my heart. Barbie and I stayed at one of the USA Raft Adventure Resort Vintage Airstreams, we stopped at Uncle Johnny’s (an iconic AT Hostel), we enjoyed the Steel Rails Coffee shop where I enjoyed one of my favorite chai’s I’ve ever sipped. There are so many spots in this town that are so special to me and so many others who’ve experienced the kindness of this town as they walked the AT.
Roan Mountain, TN - Though I’ve admittedly spent more time on Roan Mountain than I have in the town itself, I know that there are so many special people, restaurants, and businesses that make this town (and the mountain) what it is. Two iconic AT hostels Mountain Harbour and The Appalachian Station at 19E were greatly impacted by the storm. Though I did not have the opportunity to stay at these places, I have heard great things from many other hikers about these spots and am devastated for the impact this will also have on the hiking community.
I know there are places on this list that I’m missing - and for that I’m so sorry. I’m sorry that they’ll never be the same. And I’m sorry that I never had the chance to visit before this devastation occurred. But I promise I will be visiting every town that I can when it is safe to do so and supporting the hell out of them.
The outpouring of love I have seen from WNC, all around NC, and beyond has brought me to tears. Everyday it is proven to me more and more how much your community matters. It will take time, but we will get through this and I have to hold hope that we will come back stronger.
Sending all my love to Appalachia ❤️🩹❤️🩹
*I will continue to update this page as I find new places to share/donate etc. Last updated 10/11/2024
If I missed your favorite WNC/ETN/SWVA town on my list, please share yours below in the comments, what you love about that place, and how others can help them (if you know).