#BeLoved Asheville

[yo-aloe-vera]

BeLoved Asheville Searching for Space for Free Store Open To Those Affected by Helene

BeLoved Asheville, a grassroots organization that has spearheaded a great deal of the hurricane relief efforts around Asheville, NC, is trying to find space to open a free store where those affected by Helene can come and choose what they need. They write:

"We’re embarking on a mission to create a FREE Store—a place where anyone affected by the hurricane can come and find clothing and other essentials at no cost. We want this to be a space of hope and community, where neighbors help neighbors. Now, we need your help to find the perfect location!

We’re searching for a place to rent or buy in Asheville, Swannanoa, Black Mountain, Waynesville, or Barnardsville. If you know of any available spots or have a space to offer, please reach out! Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient community.

Let’s spread the word and make sure no one is left without the help they need!"

[krispyweiss]

I’m with Her Cover Sabrina Carpenter for Hurricane Relief

As if covering Sabrina Carpenter wasn’t weird enough, I’m with Her chose “Espresso” as the song to bolster Hurricane Helene relief efforts.

I can’t relate to desperation/my give-a-fucks are on vacation, the trio sings on the Bandcamp exclusive that benefits BeLoved Asheville.

It finds the trio setting Carpenter’s 21st-century disco to three-part harmonies over Sarah Jarosz’s octave mandolin, Aoife O’Donovan’s acoustic guitar and Sara Watkins’ fiddle. Musically, it’s a 180 from the original, though the unserious lyrics remain unserious for anyone over 30, despite I’m with Her’s serious vocal prowess.

While it’s always a thrill when Jarosz, O’Donovan and Watkins get the band back together, “Espresso” remains a mindless song, even when radically rearranged and sung perfectly.

It’s for an important cause. But that doesn’t make I’m with Her’s “Espresso” any less weird.

Hear it here.

10/21/24

[littleoblivions]

vetted organizations / funds to donate to in appalachia for hurricane relief

beloved asheville

wnc rural organizing & resilience (ROAR)

pansy collective

appalachian medical solidarity/asheville survival program

first aid collective knoxville

marshall, nc refugees mutual aid fund

rural barnardsville, nc supply fund

please boost if you cannot contribute—the destruction in appalachia is devastating and our infrastructure was not equipped to handle this kind of disaster.

[bijoumikhawal]

Hurricane Helene Relief Funds

Brother Wolf Animal Rescue operates out of Asheville, which has been hit aggressively by storm and flood damage

The Asheville Survival Program is reaching out. They appear to actually be the ones who use the Cashapp $Streets1de, and they just got put with Appalachian Med for convenience.

Beloved Asheville is reaching out. www.PayPal.me/belovedasheville and venmo.com/beloved-asheville

Homeward Bound helps the homeless in the Asheville/Buncombe area

Theres a fund for smaller rural communities around Asheville. It's close to its goal, but I really wish they'd set it higher considering what people are gonna need. Someone make sure they surpass it!

Charlotte NC is reaching out. Charlotte Mutual Aid: Helene Disaster Relief. CashApp: MutualAid704. Venmo: MutualAid704. Open Collective: Helene.cltfnb.com

Olive Branch Ministry is reaching out from West NC

Josh Griffith is fundraising for his efforts to deliver food in WNC

Breathitt County in Kentucky is fundraising to help NC through the Rousseau Volunteer Fire Department, as well as asking for physical supply donations. Their paypal is jrousseauvfd, put "for NC flood". Jaxon Flower shop in Jackson KY will also take physical donations. They aren't looking for clothes, moreso cleaning supplies and other items.

North Durham Mutual Aid is reaching out.

Eastern Kentucky Mutual Aid is also reaching out for funds. There looks like there might be two orgs with similar names, but if so both are helping. There's PayPal.me/ekymutualaid, Venmo - @ekymutualaid, or Cashapp - $ekymutualaid. There's also a Facebook group where individuals are posting requests for aid.

There's a fund for relief in Erwin, Tennessee

Helbender Harm Reduction is collecting physical supplies in Knoxville alongside First Aid Collective Knoxille, whose Cashapp/Venmo is: $firstaidcollectknox. If you're nearby they're looking for clothes, blankets, shelf stable food, rain gear, flashlights, and batteries, which is what most other groups asking for supplies are looking at too.

The TriCities Mutual Aid group is mostly asking for volunteers and supplies in the Tennessee/Virginia area. However, they may shift to donations, and you can reach out to them to see if they would be welcome either way.

Food Not Bombs Tallahassee has a cashapp: $fnbtally2022. They and Mutual Aid Athens are also boosting any community calls for funds, labor, or supplies in various states on their Instagram pages

Taylor County FL is reaching out. Paypal: Mskatonic138@gmail.com and Venmo @Mskatonic138

The Footprint project's Florida team is asking for people to support their response by texting HELENE to 44-321

Since I don't know if the post I made late last night will get traction I'll reiterate that Mutual Aid Disaster Relief is a trusted org. You can send funds at the linked site, or via Paypal: MutualAidDisasterRelief@gmail.com Or Venmo: @MutualAidDisasterRelief

Appalachian Med is another trusted org I shared last night. They have Venmo: @AppMedSolid. Put Flood Support in the description

Animal Disaster Relief Coalition is helping people make sure their animals are fed.

A list of Mutual Aid groups can be found here

A friend of mine, Vyn, is asking for help since he'll be out of power for around a week in Southeast GA

Other physical supplies people will be looking for in flood impacted areas include:

bottled water, potentially water filters

personal hygiene items: wipes, camping showers, tampons/pads/other menstrual products, handsanitizer, mosquito spray, laundry detergent, washboards, toilet paper, diapers, and especially any products safe for sensitive skin

medications- ibuprofen, monistat and other meds for yeast infections, cold and cough meds, any diabetic meds that can be safely shared, etc

individually wrapped low or no prep food items, baby formula, and Gatorade

duffel bags, backpacks, heavy duty storage totes and trash bags, 5 gallon buckets, coolers

Fans, dehumidifiers, moisture sensors, generators, gas and gas cans, solar charging items and battery banks, first aid kits

chainsaws, crowbars, hammers, air filters, respirators, 2×4 planks, bleach, roofing nails, heavy duty gloves, and potentially waders.

and board games or other non electric activities for children

Double check if you can before you donate these items to make sure whatever local drive you're headed to wants them and can distribute the more specialized ones where they're needed

And please! Add any funds you know of, especially for South Carolina and North Georgia since I wasn't seeing many funds for those areas! I know South Carolina is in desperate need and there's definitely parts of North Georgia in need too. Atlanta saw some bad flooding so keep an eye for them too!

[werewolfaday]

day 287-- a really special Ko-Fi request:

NC is my homestate, and though I'm not in the mountains, the absolute destruction of the WNC area has been catastrophic and gut-wrenching to witness. I'm sending love to all my fellow Carolinians and Georgians + Floridians affected <3 and I would encourage everyone to try and take a little time to educate themselves on the communities in Appalachia, and/or donate to these organizations that are doing amazing work at the moment:

Beloved Asheville

Mutual Aid Disaster Relief

Watauga Arts Council

Community Ownership Poder Emma

[darkartsanna]

Hurricane Helene Relief Funds to those affected in the Southern Regions *will edit as I find more, please reblog as usual and check back for updates (Liking doesn't circulate it and isn't helpful)* *9/30 Has been edited! (Also, I think whenever I edit this it doesn't update the versions already reblogged?) ORGANIZATIONS American Red Cross FEMA Disaster Assistance Improvement Program Warmline Directory (Mental health resource) AKC Pet Reunite Food Not Bombs Operation BBQ Relief Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies & Roll Mobility Operation Air Drop GEORGIA State and Local Level Referrals - (60 Organizations Listed) Emergency Shelter Locations Animal League

NORTH CAROLINA Brother Wolf Animal Rescue Asheville Survival Program Homeward Bound State and Local Level Referrals Beloved Asheville Rural Community funds CLT Mutual Aid Fundraiser for a NC resident to deliver food to affected areas Mutual Aid Disaster Relief Animal Disaster Relief Coalition Mutual Aid Disaster Groups

Special Note: There are 2 Wifi Stations now open for public use. The locations are: SPOT 1: DoubleTree Hilton Downtown 199 Haywood SSID: SORTOR STARLINK Pass: ncstrong SPOT 2: Asheville Shelter Ferguson Building 340 Victoria Rd SSID: HALL STARLINK Pass: ncstrong SOUTH CAROLINA State and Local Level Referrals (44 Organizations Listed) FLORIDA Volunteer Florida Disaster Fund FootPrint Project State and Local Level Referrals - (52 Organizations Listed)

TENNESSEE HellBender Harm Reduction

More supplies to consider donating in hurricane impacted areas:

Bottled water, potentially water filters

Personal hygiene items: wipes, tampons/pads/other menstrual products, hand sanitizer, mosquito spray, laundry detergent, toilet paper, diapers, and especially any products safe for sensitive skin

Medications like ibuprofen/tylenol, yeast infection medicine, cold & cough medicine, any diabetic meds that can be safely shared, etc

Individually wrapped low to no prep food items, baby formula, and Gatorade

Pet Food

Sunscreen

Heavy duty bags, Duffel bags, backpacks, and trash bags, 5 gallon buckets, coolers

Fans, dehumidifiers, moisture sensors, generators, gas, gas canisters, solar charging items, portable battery banks, first aid kits

Chainsaws, crowbars, hammers, air filters, respirators, 2×4 planks, bleach, roofing nails, heavy duty gloves, and waders.

Books, Board Games or other non electric activities for children

Double check before donating items, especially if your local drive is accepting donations of particular products and can distribute the more specialized ones where they're needed.

[reasonsforhope]

The loss of life and impact on the communities in Helene’s path is unfathomable — and both the immediate and long-term needs are vast. 

If you’re reading this, it’s likely because you want to help and care about making a difference for those who’ve been impacted by Hurricane Helene.

You’re in the right place. When we see tragedy like this happen in the news, it’s important to not tune it out. Instead, pay attention and truly feel the heartbreak of it — t​​hen, look for and be inspired by the people stepping in to help, and use that energy to make a difference ourselves.

Looking for the helpers

Instead of turning away from tragic events like the devastation from Hurricane Helene — we look closer for people stepping in using what they have, where they are, to make a difference for others.

Inspired by Mister Rogers’ famous quote, we call them the “helpers,” — and they’re usually found wherever there’s bad news in the world. Hurricane Helene is no different. Here are some people, businesses, and organizations helping right now:

Chef José Andrés and ​World Central Kitchen teams are serving thousands of meals to communities in need — from Mexico, and the Big Bend of Florida, and into Appalachia.

Volunteer pilots with the Port City Aviators Flying Club are flying supplies to storm victims in western North Carolina.

The national Disaster Distress Helpline is providing free multilingual crisis counseling to those in need.

Southern Smoke Foundation, an organization that supports food & beverage workers in crisis, is providing financial support for groceries, medical bills, lost wages, and more.

Volunteers with veteran-led disaster response organization Team Rubicon are on the ground in Greenwood, South Carolina clearing roads of trees and debris.

A local library branch in Asheville, North Carolina served as a hub for community members in need of internet service.

Workers at Waffle House were “unlikely heroes” providing food to people in need.

A local Fox News correspondent stopped his live broadcast to help rescue a woman trapped in her car in rising floodwaters.

Emergency response teams rescued more than 50 staff, patients, and caregivers from the roof of a hospital in Erwin, Tennessee.

The SPCA of Brevard rescued 20 animals from Hurricane Helene’s path — and it’s now helping them get adopted.

‍

How to make a difference

After we’ve allowed ourselves to feel the weight of the pain and heartbreak associated with bad news, and look for hope and helpers in the midst of it — we always have the opportunity to join in and make a difference, too. 

Here are some ways to help — whether you’re local or far away:

Donate to national organizations 

Here are just a few large-scale organizations that have helpers on the ground in the region.

American Red Cross

World Central Kitchen

Feeding America

United Way

Salvation Army

CARE

Donate to local organizations

Local organizations, recovery funds, and mutual aid groups have been deployed across the states impacted by Helene. Find donation links and updates below:

All States:

GoFundMe Hub for Hurricane Helene Relief

Mutual Aid Disaster Relief

Southeast Climate & Energy Network

Convoy of Hope

Appalachia Funders Network

Americares

Organizing Resilience

The National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

Tennessee:

East Tennessee Foundation

First Aid Collective Knoxville

RISE Erwin

Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee

North Carolina:

North Carolina Community Foundation

Hearts With Hands

Manna Foodbank

BeLoved Asheville

Foothills Food Hub

Haywood Christian Ministry

Samaritan’s Purse

Forsyth Humane Society

Hope Mill

‍

Volunteer locally

Organizations in the affected area are seeking volunteers to help distribute resources and support crucial aid efforts. While many of us are not local to the region, those who are nearby are encouraged to join in a myriad of volunteer opportunities.

(Note: If you aren't in the area, the best way you can help is by supporting local efforts with a donation. Keeping roads clear for rescue crews and local relief agents is vital in maintaining safety in these already devastated regions).

For local volunteers, check out:

World Central Kitchen

Operation BBQ Relief

Marco Patriots

Operation Airdrop

Baptists on Mission

‍

Contact your elected officials and ask them to take climate action

Climate scientists agree, the intensity and extent of the devastation brought by Hurricane Helene was made worse by climate change. 

While we can’t go back in time and burn less fossil fuels — we can make a difference now to secure a safer future and prevent future climate disasters. 

In addition to talking about how this disaster is connected to climate change in our own conversations and holding media outlets accountable for how they talk about climate change — this is a great time to tell your elected officials that you want them to take meaningful climate action.

We’re making incredible progress in the U.S. and globally in reducing emissions, but we need to work even faster — and incorporate climate mitigation efforts into our plans — to limit the most severe impacts of global warming.

[genos-is-modern-art]

I know it's not what people usually see from me content wise. I know y'all just know me as a nameless, faceless OPM blogger, but me, my family, and my community just went through something tragic.

I live in Western North Carolina, and as many people don't know, we got hit by a hurricane. I never thought it would happen. Torrential flooding has literally wiped towns off the map, and I don't know if or when things will ever go back to normal.

I'm one of the lucky ones - we were far enough away from the rivers that we didn't lose our homes or our cars, but many people I know can't say the same. My hometown of Marshall has been devastated, our beloved Chimney Rock is gone, and the River Arts district in nearby Asheville may never be the same.

There are so many GoFundMe's being posted all over WNC of people I know or am connected with somehow - I could never pick one over the other. So instead, I'll just share the link to the Red Cross' North Carolina chapter instead.

I know it's a lot to ask, but if you can at least share this or bring some attention to it somehow. Most people have no internet access, electricity, water, cell service, gas, or food. We're cut off from the world thanks to roads being literally swept away by the rivers. This is all I know how to do, outside of being present for those in my community.

[sailoryooons]

HURRICANE HELENE AND MILTON RELIEF

As most of you know, I was born and raised in South Florida, and until recently, lived in central Florida. I want to provide some donation resources in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. There are a number of ways to help both from afar and locally. If you can't help - that is okay. This is not an economy made for being able to help others, so feel free to spread resources/awareness and let me know of any additional resources I can add here.

Note: This is not an exhaustive list of ways to help those suffering from the effects of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, and many of these are Florida-based because it's what I'm familiar with. If you know of resources specific to the Carolinas and areas in Appalachia that I can add, please let me know!

AMERICAN RED CROSS

Monetary Donation | Find A Local Blood Drive

VOLUNTEER FLORIDA

Donate to the Florida Disaster Fund

UNITED WAY

Donate for Hurricane Relief

FEEDING TAMPA BAY

Donate to help feed victims of hurricanes

WE ARE ST. PETE

Donate for Hurricane Relief

AMERICARES

Donate for Hurricane Helene Relief

GREATER GOOD CHARITIES

Donate for Hurricane Helen and Hurricane Milton Relief

HUMANE SOCIETIES

Florida Humane Society | Humane Society Tampa Bay | Humane Society Sarasota | Humane Society Pinellas | Humane Society Polk County |

SALVATION ARMY

Donate for Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton Relief

FEMA

Email donations@fema.dhs.gov for in-kind donations

MUTUAL AID DISASTER RELIEF

Donate to Hurricane Recovery

BELOVED ASHEVILLE

Donate for Hurricane Helene Relief in Asheville

COLLECTION SITES

A ton of different places in the south will have donation drives/collection sites to drop off donation materials. You'll have to do some research wherever you are locally, but if you live near a sports team, event stadium, or a YMCA in the south, they will most likely host relief drives in their parking lots!

[visionsthatdance]

Support for Western North Carolina

This is the text body of an email from Carolina Jews for Justice, a grassroots organizing group based in Durham, NC. I thought I would share it here.

Monetary Donations = Direct Aid

Please consider making donations to the following mutual aid and support efforts or on-ground organizations, and please share widely:

Day One Relief is mobilizing and a trusted source sending direct aid via plane to hard hit spaces. 

*Monetary and Direct Item Give*

 Donate to Day One Relief

Operation Airdrop

Mutual Aid Disaster Relief

Triangle Mutual Aid (coordinating with Asheville Mutual Aid)

BeLoved Asheville - needs funds and is coordinating volunteers with trucks who can drive supplies to people, out of 32 Old Charlotte Hwy Asheville, NC

Organizing Resilience (benefits Down Home NC, and other rural organizers doing the deep, year-round work, and partaking in community assessment surveys right now)

Items Needed

Water

Life Straws

Chainsaws

Heavy-duty storage totes

Heavy-duty tarps (the blue ones are less good)

Generators

Roofing nails

Baby formula

Non-perishable food

Manual can openers

Coolers

Gatorade

Wire brushes

Trash bags (the heavy ones are sometimes called "contractor bags")

Brooms

Mops

Laundry detergent

Washboards

Batteries, power banks

Mosquito spray

Toilet paper

Dehumidifiers

Box fans

Solar charging items

Diapers, baby wipes

5 gal buckets

Respirators and N-95 cartridges

2x4s

Bleach

Drop-Off Locations

Triangle Area

+ Carrboro, NC: 

Back Alley Bikes

100 Boyd St, Carrboro, NC 27510

Open Tues - Sat. 11am to 6pm

+ Durham, NC:

The Scrap Exchange

2050 Chapel Hill Rd, Durham, NC 27707

10:30am - 6pm Tue-Sun.

Art Post 

718 Iredell, Durham NC 27705

Starting Monday, Sept. 30th

Open Monday-Saturday 12-6pm

Maverick’s Smokehouse and Taproom

900 W Main Street, Durham NC 27701

*on street parking and free parking available in Brightleaf Square Lot*

Sunday 11am-9pm

Monday-Tuesday 11am-2pm

Wednesday-Thursday 11am-9pm

Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm

+ Raleigh, NC: 

RUMAH 

415 Hillsborough St., Raleigh

Drop off during events. See calendar on website raleighmutualaid.info

Triad Area

Taking donations over the next few weeks. Accepted Items include: sports drinks, hydration packs, baby wipes, diapers, baby formula, bug spray, sunscreen, plastic utensils, manual can openers, large trash bags, non-perishable foods, cleaning supplies, plastic sheeting/tarps, toothbrushes and toothpaste, toiletries/sanitation items, pet food, hand sanitizer, sanitizer wipes, feminine hygiene products, heavy-duty work gloves and unworn socks. 

+ Greensboro, NC: 

GetOutdoors Pedal & Paddle

1515 W Gate City Blvd., Greensboro NC

AND: 

241 Summit Avenue

11am - 1pm Tuesday-Friday

+ Lewisville, NC: 

The Coffee Mill 

6275 Shallowford Road, Lewisville, NC

Charlotte Area:

+ Concord, NC:

Drop offs for Operation Airdrop at Walmart Parking Lot

5825 Thunder Rd NW, Concord, NC 28027

[alittledizzy]

I know there are already posts going around about this, but someone I know that was devastatingly impacted by the situation in Asheville has shared some of the groups already on the ground that have routes for resources in and out of the area.

So if anyone is looking for a place to donate to, consider these local ones, where your money or donation will have an almost immediate impact.

Beloved Asheville (has no paid staff, all donations go 100% to their efforts)

Mountain Mule Packer Ranch - are using mule chains to transport supplies into areas still inaccessible except by foot

Operation Airdrop - has three addresses you can send things to if you'd rather send supplies on their list of things they're in dire need of instead of money

Cajun Navy - this link goes to their Amazon wishlist of items for Helene victims

[houseofwolves-v1]

Hi friends, I finally have consistent reliable cell service again for the first time since Friday. I’m so incredibly thankful that my family and friends are all safe and experiencing only minimal disruption to our homes and living situations in the wake of Hurricane Helene, especially since the same cannot be said for the majority of our area.

I’m going to be compiling a list of local nonprofits and mutual aid funds in Western North Carolina that are helping with disaster relief that are in need of donations and support (I’ll continue editing this post to add more as I find them)

My family and I are doing what we can to help out since we have the ability to do so, but resources are scarce here right now and outside help is greatly appreciated. That being said, please please please DO NOT physically come and try to offer volunteer aid! There are coordinated groups that are making supply runs back and forth, and we need to make sure roads are kept as clear as possible so that emergency and utility workers are able to do their jobs. The majority of the area is still without power and/or water and there are enough of us in stable situations who can volunteer where it’s needed without bringing in people who will be unnecessarily using precious resources.

*EDIT: most places have received such an influx in donations they’re requesting a halt on physical items so that they have time to distribute everything, so monetary donations to purchase bigger ticket items (generators and other such things) are now the priority!* Items needed are non perishable food, bottled water, trash bags, blankets, first aid supplies, pads and tampons, diapers, formula, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, toilet paper, paper towels, bleach, shovels, gloves, coolers, propane, camp stoves, flashlights, and batteries. There are plenty of groups outside the area that are coordinating with groups here to bring those supplies up, so locating someone who is doing that to donate those supplies to is key if you’re wanting to offer a physical donation rather than monetary.

Buncombe County:

•Blue Ridge Public Radio has been an incredible source of information and provides regular updates, both on air at 88.1 if you’re local, and on their instagram page @/blueridgepublicradio (this one is a resource suggestion rather than a donation suggestion)

•BeLoved Asheville- local nonprofit working to distribute supplies and coordinate clean up efforts, Venmo: @/BeLoved-Asheville, PayPal: @/belovedasheville

•Babies Need Bottoms- local nonprofit distributing wipes and diapers, based in Asheville but serves all of Western NC normally, so hopefully they’ll be able to start expanding where they’re offering supplies to soon, Link to Donate: https://babiesneedbottoms.org/donate/

•Pansy Collective- mutual aid collective, also Asheville based but serving the Western NC area, using donations for both general supplies and the specific needs of individuals, Venmo and CashApp: @/pansycollective

•Asheville Survival Program- mutual aid collective, using donations for both general supplies and the specific needs of individuals, Venmo: @/AppMedSolid, CashApp: $streetsidehelene

•Manna Food Bank- private nonprofit distributing food, they serve all of Western NC but just had their headquarters severely damaged by flooding (although they have still been out regularly distributing food the past few days), Link to Donate: https://donate.mannafoodbank.org

•Brother Wolf Animal Rescue- local animal shelter that is urgently seeking foster homes for pets if you’re in the area, and also seeking monetary donations as their facility was severely damaged by flooding, Link to Donate: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/rebuildbw

Madison County:

•Community Housing Coalition- local nonprofit providing home repairs to low income residents, Link to Donate: https://chcmadisoncountync.org/donate/

•Rural Organizing and Resilience (also known as ROAR WNC)- mutual aid effort working to get supplies out to people who can’t access shelters and food distribution sites, Link to Donate: https://ruralorganizing.wordpress.com/donate/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYcowwFWXMZ2KX9E5soM2mg1dXfHbe3s8j1_S2D5HAuPuyYv3JtPXzeEDc_aem_rI_E3daUQlumDDLbIEn22g

•Holler Harm Reduction- mutual aid collective, working with ROAR to help distribute supplies, Link to Donate: https://www.hollerharmreduction.org/get-involved

Watauga County:

•@/sweetleaf161 on instagram- regularly sharing mutual aid links for Boone and surrounding areas

•Watauga Humane Society- working to provide pet food to locals, and offering available facility space for those needing a safe space for their pet to temporarily stay during this time, Link to Donate: https://wataugahumane.org/donate/doogies_hope

•F.A.R.M. Cafe- local nonprofit providing free or pay what you can meals, Link to Donate: https://farmcafe.org/donate

•Hunger and Health Coalition- local nonprofit distributing food and medications, based in Boone but serving the whole High Country area, Link to Donate: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/thehungerandhealthcoalition

[fernscare]

mutual aid networks are doing tons of work on the ground in southern Appalachia to get help to those affected by Hurricane Helene. Just a few to consider supporting:

Mutual Aid Disaster Relief: venmo @ MutualAidDisasterRelief .

Asheville Survival Program: venmo @ AppMedSolid. Put "Flood Support" in memo.

Beloved Asheville: venmo @ Beloved-Asheville; Cashapp $BelovedAsheville

Mutual Aid Disaster Relief and Mergoat Mag are a couple profiles that are also very active sharing additional gfms, grassroots efforts, donation drives, resources, etc.

[andtherestishistory13]

HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF!!!

Hurricane Helene has completely devastated the south, specifically Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. There are towns in North Carolina completely underwater. My hometown is flooded. Boone, Asheville and other mountain areas are completely blocked off from the rest of the state and only reachable through aircraft. Please share this post or do anything you can to help. It’d greatly appreciated

[deathlygristly]

I wonder if Israelis and Palestinians feel something like this. Or anyone else whose home and people and life become discourse tokens.

On Facebook I read a post by a woman who owns a store in Asheville. She attempted to drive to her store and check on her employees and get supplies. You can say she shouldn't have done that and she probably shouldn't have, but I'm not gonna judge her too hard.

She said it was extremely scary, that there were plenty of times she was worried her car would slip down the side of a half-destroyed road. She said she saw whole sides of mountains that had collapsed in landslides. And also she said that she saw so many dead bodies of all species, including human. She said she was listening to the radio and another woman called in from Swannanoa, where I went to 4-H camp, talking about seeing human bodies floating down the river and piling up.

She said when she got into Asheville and she had cell service again she called authorities to let them know about the bodies. She said they said they were overwhelmed with similar calls and they honestly didn't know if/when they'd be able to get to the bodies.

The death count will eventually go up. Or at least eventually those people will be missing, presumed dead, if their bodies are never gathered and identified.

I've been staying to local news and posts from fellow North Carolinians specifically about the realities of the situation. Read a heartbreaking thread on the Asheville Reddit of people talking about how they're feeling and about the trauma and their survivor's guilt if they managed to evacuate and their anger at people not taking it seriously.

And then I come on here and I see it starting to be used for discourse, and I understand that anger.

We are real people. We are real people with real families and friends and real beloved mountains and precious memories of our mountains and real trauma. We are not tools for your ego. We are not internet clout points for you. We are not vague abstractions to be used in meaningless arguments that only feed your biases and prejudices and your need to feel morally superior.

We are real people and we are in real pain. Either help or get off the mountain.

[bloodmoonlich]

Hi everyone, someone I share a close friend with lives in Asheville. For those who want to help, she highly recommends donating to BeLoved Asheville. They offer a lot of options for donations including PayPal, venmo, Zelle, Cashapp, and mail. BeLoved Asheville is doing a lot of work on the ground to deliver supplies and support the community, which you can see on their instagram.

If you're local, they're also in need of volunteers and donations. Their address is 32 Old Charlotte Hwy, Asheville, NC 28803 - as of October 2, they're encouraging people to show up at this location to volunteer and/or deliver supplies. (It is not recommended to travel to Asheville at this time if you're not local. This is to prevent using more gas and other resources.)