The celebration of World Water Day benefits local environmental nonprofit MountainTrue.
A window into life on the streets
For both volunteers and participants, the count, led by the Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care, represented an opportunity for much more than, well, counting. They were given an opportunity to see, maybe for the first time, what life is like for those many of us just walk past.
Green roundup: County commissioners support eastern hellbender
“The eastern hellbender is one of only three giant salamanders on the planet,” said District 3 Commissioner Parker Sloan during the Feb. 4 meeting. “They’re down to about 59%, so we’ve lost roughly half of the eastern hellbenders.”
Months after Helene, WNC’s food insecurity crisis persists
Local groups instrumental in meeting Western North Carolina’s food needs in the wake of the storm say the problem runs deep and there’s a long road ahead.
Donors step up to support Give!Local in record numbers
Give!Local raised more than $337,000 — plus more than $112,000 in matching grants — for 52 area nonprofits in 2024. That was a big increase from 2023.
Helene will have long-lasting effect on animal-adoption agencies
From a decrease in adoptions to an increased need for emergency veterinary care, Tropical Storm Helene’s impact will continue in 2025 for animal shelters.
Unstoppable: Serving the community is a key priority
“In an odd series of events, we had actually decided to open a food resource area and onboarded our first mental health intern right before the hurricane hit,” says Amy Upham, executive director of Blue Ridge Pride.
Unstoppable: Self-care is important
“Seeing our clinicians regularly at comfort sites, in our bright teal T-shirts, helps foster a sense of trust and creates a safe space to chat or cry,” Meredith Switzer, executive director of All Souls Counseling Center,
Unstoppable: Talk to friends and family about mental health
“There is an emotional life cycle of a disaster and many of us in our community are still in the ‘disillusionment’ stage,” says Cammy Sky Holt, communications director of Black Mountain Counseling Center.
Unstoppable: Clearing trees and developing new bonds
“We have real concerns about how the downed debris could impact the severity of wildfires,” says Lang Hornthal, co-executive director of EcoForesters. “We also know that nonnative invasive species will take advantage of this newly created growing space and will be a big problem come spring.”
Food distribution nonprofits provide post-Helene safety nets for WNC farms
Nonprofits dedicated to providing food to the community have relied on COVID-era programs and knowledge to help WNC’s farms survive the impact of Tropical Storm Helene.
Coalition takes aim at Helene-damaged homes
Asheville Regional Coalition for Home Repair, aka ARCHR, in collaboration with PODER Emma Community Ownership, Mountain Housing Opportunities, Community Action Opportunities and Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity.
Unstoppable: ‘We want to spread joy’
“For us personally, it was so heartening to hear from so many families who were worried about the safety of the Nature Center animals post-Helene,” says Kate Frost, executive director of Friends of the WNC Nature Center,
Unstoppable: Remarkable tenacity in the artists
“Providing resources to help artists stabilize is critical to reviving the cultural heart of our community,” Stephanie Moore, executive director of Center for Craft,
Unstoppable: Second act
“WNC theaters were finally getting close to pre-COVID attendance, and Helene set us all the way back,” says Rose Pillmore, board member of Asheville Theater Alliance
Unstoppable: Creative expression post-Helene
“Our staff stepped up in incredible ways, making home visits to artists and delivering essential supplies where needed,” says Debbie Harris, co-executive director of Open Hearts Art Center.
Nonprofit groups address fundraising, volunteer challenges in wake of Helene
Many local nonprofits are facing challenges as money and volunteer hours pour into groups with a more direct role in storm recovery efforts. These groups are trying to address the issue in creative ways, including reaching out to donors and volunteers outside WNC for help.
Unstoppable: Advocating for food security
“With the storm’s impact, we anticipate a significant rise in food insecurity as more families and individuals turn to us and other community resources in the coming months,” says Micah Chrisman, director of marketing and communications of MANNA FoodBank.
Smart Bets: Caverns of Gold
The compilation album — a fundraiser to support Beloved Asheville’s post-Helene relief work — features songs from 279 local, regional and international artists with connections to WNC.
Smart Bets: Lake Logan benefit concert and volunteer weekend
A weekend of music and food combines with post-Helene river and lake cleanup efforts in Haywood County.
Small towns find ways to aid businesses suffering financially after Helene
As small towns throughout Western North Carolina face an October without tourists, local nonprofits and community members are finding ways to help financially struggling businesses.
