The mountain fell away – localizing your donation

The night Helene arrived, sleep never came. The heavy sound of whipping wind and dumping sheets of rain came instead and in frightening squalls. Squall-by-squall, I felt each was worse than the one before and I hoped each would be the last. Paltry, in comparison, to the terror of those who lost their homes, and many their lives, in the prolific and catastrophic landslides and flooding where the land had no choice, but to give passage.
My neighbor described it best when her competent sons, the day after, went as far as they could by vehicle and then by foot (and chainsaw) reporting that, “The mountain has fell away.”
Like her sons, it’s the locals who are the first responders in a catastrophe where access is cut-off. It is the locals who know the needs and how best to accommodate their community.

Locals supporting locals

If you are wondering how best to support relief efforts, consider localizing you donation. Support of ‘locals supporting locals’ skips the agency middleman going direct to the source.
Local podcast on conditions and relief efforts:

The Mountain Magnolia Podcast – Heart and Soul Local Relief Efforts

These grassroots relief efforts are a reflection of the region’s character. Donation links for your consideration will be continually updated:

  • Black Mountain Presbyterian Church (attn: Hurricane), heading up multiple efforts
  • The Railyard Black Mountain: – local chefs offering free hot meals to the community, donate either through the Black Mountain Presbyterian Church (above) or @thepureandproper on Venmo
  • Birmingham to Black Mountain Support Fund, money given directly to hardest hit families
  • Olive Branch Cattle Co, spearheading a hay drive to support livestock, through the Fall and Winter, on farms where their hay fields were destroyed – not yet set up to accept monetary donation, they are accepting Tractor Suppy and Visa Gift Cards. Contact via Facebook messenger or [email protected]
  • Wild Abundance Disaster Relief Fund, Natalie Bogwater, brings her broad team of teachers and former students of her impressive off-grid and carpentry related courses for on-the-spot support repairing, rebuilding, and surviving off-grid.
  • FBRA Salamander Fund – all Funds Going to Hurricane Relief Efforts, The French Broad River Academy is directing all donations to their Salamander Fund to Hurricane Helene Western North Carolina, which is providing resources and support to small communities in Western North Carolina.
  • Riverfolk Rescue has committed themselves to providing lasting relief, rescue, and recovery for hard to access areas of Appalachia.
  • Support for Swannanoa, this fund will be used to help support those who are in need and to provide supplies and financial resources to those who are displaced.
  • ReGroup WNC Hurricane Relief Fund. Our mission is simple but powerful: To get those in need back in stable living conditions. Please help us raise funds for those whose need falls in between their means and the social safety net. It is making a huge difference

Bringing the hardest hit areas back to their feet will be a long and arduous haul with many wondering if it is even possible. Several quaint towns, hamlets, and hollers have been described as–“Gone”–either by landslide or flood.

Please share this resource for localizing donations, where support is direct-to-the-community. 

In appreciation of your support – a gift of gratitude 

As a WNC (Western North Carolina) resident with a business (www.cellementals.com) based in Black Mountain, we will send the first 100 donors 2 complimentary tins of Cellemental Complete. Simply send validation of your $100+ (or equivalent) donation to me at [email protected] and we will arrange shipment (valid in U.S and Canada).

Cellemental Complete is a foundational food based supplement especially supportive of when times get tough.

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