Love and Support for Western North Carolina

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I moved to Western North Carolina when I was 7. For as long as I can remember, the Blue Ridge Mountains have felt like home. Whenever I go back to visit, the mountains call to me: their beautiful layers of ridges, green and lush in the summer, all shades of blues, misty, foggy and in the fall bursting with bright colors. They are the fabric of my childhood and they feel comforting, familiar and I love them. The curvy mountain roads feel familiar as does the Appalachian accent

As I saw pictures and videos of the devastation from Hurricane Helene, I felt swallowed with grief. So many places that I hold dear are either gone or have experienced horrible damage. Even though I haven’t lived there for years, it feels like part of my heart has been broken. Asheville is well-known, but there are so many small towns affected — Burnsville, Micaville, Marshall, Hot Springs, to name a few. The places where I grew up, rode horses and bikes, took my driver’s license test, spent my summers and went to college.

The places I mentioned are just a few of those I know best. There are SO many small, rural towns and communities that have been destroyed by this storm. Some of these small rural communities may never be able to rebuild.

Many of you have asked how you can help. Here are some options to donate financially if you’d like. If you haven’t visited Western North Carolina, I hope that someday in the future when they are welcoming visitors, you will.