Help Rebuild Western North Carolina

Here or there, near or far, we care about people. The world is a small place and getting smaller as personal and business connections now happen instantaneously.

Western North Carolina and the entire Applachian Mountain range draws millions of people a year to view the changing leaves in the autumn, the flowering trees in the spring, summer sports and fishing, snowy wonderlands in the winter, and all manner of sport, spectacle, food, culture and entertainment all year around.

Over the course of two days in late September 2024 the entire western region of North Carolina was devastated by rainfall and winds wrought by hurricane Helene. Many small towns were wiped from the map—homes, businesses, farms (buildings, equipment, agriculture and livestock) swept away in a deluge of floods and mudslides. This has been called an unprecedented natural disaster, the scope of which has never been witnessed in America.

As a resident of North Carolina and a travel journalist, I’ve visited the western foothills and Blue Ridge Mountains several times. I’ve dined at mom and pop restaurants tucked away off the Blue Ridge Highway, purchased handmade crafts from artisans in backwater towns, hiked into hollows of the Smokies, and admired the glorioius colors of autumn along the ridges and into the valleys of the Applachian range.

Many of these, and other Applachian-area experiences, cannot be replicated now or for many years to come. As I write this ten days later, more than 100 people have been confirmed dead with dozens more still missing. The infastructure of this entire region must be rebuilt before tourism can once again contribute to the area’s economy.

As a caring person you may be wondering how you can help. Unless you’re able to work on the ground delivering supplies, cleaning debris, building shelters, and cooking meals, the best way to help is to donate money to organizations who have proven track records of helping people where it’s needed most. 

Above photo by Ken Ruinard/Asheville Citizen-Times