Thanks to Friends, Neighbors, & Community

Buncombe County’s Communications Center has been active since the very beginning of the storm, providing updates, lists of resources, and assisting those in need.

Buncombe County’s Register of Deeds created a Family Assistance Center that included 2,685 volunteers who conducted 15,982 wellness checks, delivered 10,000+ care supplies, and even flushed 4,413 toilets to help restore comfort.

City of Asheville Public Works crews worked 24 hours a day since Sept. 27. These crews cleared more than 1,300 trees out of the roadway, operated heavy equipment, assisted FEMA Urban Search and Rescue teams, cleared and arranged access throughout the city, removed silt and debris from roadways, assisted with water distribution, cleared landslides, and assisted with trash collection.

MANNA FoodBank lost their entire building, but thanks to the power of community they opened a pop-up relief center at the WNC Farmer’s Market. Through the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, they served more than 5,000 families after the storm.

People in every county have been caring for one another, sharing provisions and resources.

Good Morning America visited BeLoved Asheville to learn about the organization’s recovery efforts in Asheville.

BeLoved Asheville dedicated all of their resources to Hurricane Helene relief efforts, distributing food and clothing items, as well as directing those in need to shelters. In just the first day after Helene, the nonprofit says it provided food and water to more than 10,000 people.

The Reparations Stakeholder Authority of Asheville (RSAA) delivered essential supplies to local Black housing and legacy communities, some of which were dramatically underserved during the first critical days. Volunteers unloaded, organized, and distributed food, diapers, feminine hygiene products, propane, batteries, water, and so much more: hope.

The Henderson County Boys and Girls Club was able to assemble enough staff and resources to offer K-5 care for our community’s heroes—EMS, fire, and healthcare workers—so they can continue their vital work while knowing their children are in safe hands.

A-B Tech’s 2023-24 Hot Food Team members, Abbey, Yajaira, and Ethyn, helped Chef Bailey cook for those in need in downtown Asheville.

Latino organizations in Asheville and Buncombe County created a collection center to help communities affected by Hurricane Helene, especially those living in mobile home lots.

PODER Emma was at James Vester Miller Park in Asheville providing food, diapers, water, first-rate medicine, clothing, and much more to the community.

The World Central Kitchen offered free meals daily at locations throughout North Carolina for community members impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Hood Huggers team members are going door to door to conduct community assessments, starting in the Burton Street Neighborhood. Afterward, the team expanded to Hillcrest, East End, South Side, Shiloh, and other historically disenfranchised communities throughout Asheville.

These are not just strangers in another state answering your calls; these are your neighbors, friends, and family. Together, we are enduring this struggle.

So many volunteers have been sleeping on floors, working tirelessly around the clock, and sharing in the same fears that we all feel.

All is not well. It will be months if not years before WNC recovers.

Help is still needed to get through this terrible tragedy. If you would like to donate, we recommend the following organizations providing relief in Asheville.

• BeLoved Asheville, www.belovedasheville.com
• MANNA FoodBank, mannafoodbank.org
• Poder Emma Community Ownership, www.poderemma.org
• Asheville Habitat for Humanity, ashevillehabitat.org
• Reparations Stakeholder Authority of Asheville, www.rsaasheville.org
• Homeward Bound, homewardboundwnc.org
• Babies Need Bottoms Asheville, babiesneedbottoms.org
• Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, zbccm.org/donations/ministry-fund
• United Way, Asheville and Buncombe County, www.unitedwayabc.org

Together, we will rebuild from this. With the help of friends, neighbors, and community, we can do this.

We love you all, and when you need us, we will be right here by your side.