Support WNC businesses and artists after Helene

Written By Katie Gillikin

A Growing List of Local Fundraisers

Last updated Oct 28, 2024

After Hurricane Helene, the true impact of the destruction has finally set in. So many lives were lost, homes were ruined or washed away and the infrastructure has been severely damaged. Our hearts are breaking in Western North Carolina as we absorb and process this disaster. 

There are local nonprofits, organizations and churches doing phenomenal work directly in the community like Beloved Asheville, MANNA FoodBank and many others. A lot of these groups are focusing on critical needs like food, water, healthcare and collecting and distributing donations throughout the region. You can find a whole list of those agencies provided by WLOS here (this was updated Sept 30, 2024).  

A lot of people have reached out asking how they can help with the recovery here and I typically direct them to the above links, but this post is going to focus specifically on supporting the businesses and artists in the area.  

Small businesses and creatives are the lifeblood of this region and what makes this area so unique and vibrant. The culture, the art, the food, the beer and the people are some of the reasons tourists flock here… especially this time of year. While a lot of businesses were lucky to avoid flooding, tree damage and other structural issues, many are left facing so many unknowns since the water system is under repair and may be for a while. Without running water, many businesses can’t operate and are unsure how to support their staff and keep up with their overhead. There is a lot to navigate with insurance claims, lack of flood insurance, applying for aid and loans, bills, clean up, lost products, and just an overall anxiety about the future and economy in general. 

With all this uncertainty, small businesses and creatives are scrambling to figure out a plan. There are SO many GoFundMe’s setup for these types of businesses and it can be overwhelming to know where to go. The region has significant needs, and I know many want to support the individuals who make it unique. This post highlights their individual fundraisers. Some on this list are my clients, some are friends, some are businesses I love or have been following closely during this disaster and others have been shared with me (there’s no particular order).

Please share other businesses and artist’s fundraisers with me so I can add them to the list (you can email me at katie@rotanzdesign). I’ll update as frequently as I can.

Don’t forget to support those that are able to operate too! Thank you in advance for your support.

pleb urban winery

I designed pleb’s logo in 2018 as they were just getting started and got to witness their dreams unfold into a beautiful and beloved space in the River Arts District. Hurricane Helene completely wiped out their building and left them with nothing. CNN featured this story here and the Citizen’s Times recently included them in this story.

Atomic Furnishing & Design

Atomic sells mid century modern furnishings and decor and is a home for many handmade items for local artists. Their space was destroyed along with so many vendor’s goods just days before they were going to celebrate their 10 year anniversary.

DayTrip

DayTrip is a cocktail lounge, event space and community meet up that opened a month before the storm hit. Brandon and Davie are locals that invested everything into this new business that fully embodied the Asheville spirit. New York Times featured their story here.

New Stock Pantry

Ashley and Travis make small-batch, made-from-scratch meals with a focus on seasonal ingredients from local farms and suppliers. Their food studio was wiped out during the storm leaving them without their retail store, refrigeration and freezer equipment.

Second Gear

Second Gear is an outdoor adventure gear consignment shop that specializes in selling used and new gear, clothing, footwear and accessories. Their building is gone and they are raising funds to support their team and possible renewal of their very popular business.

Oak and Grist Distillery

Oak and Grist is a client of mine and Will has a heart of gold. While they were lucky to avoid any flooding at their facility, they are located in one of the hardest hit areas. Their business has been put on hold without any real timeline on when they’ll be able to resume operations. All donations will be dispersed among the distillery’s employees.

website: oakandgrist.com

darë vegan cheese

darë vegan cheese is another client of mine and the owner Gwen is a dear friend. I designed their logo and helped them with a handful of other design projects as they got started in 2019. After the storm, darë lost all their perishable vegan cheese inventory and the road to their facility was completely washed out making it impossible to supply their customers or distributors. Donations will help with support their staff and other expenses as they figure out next steps.

Depot Street Businesses - River Arts District

My office used to be located on Depot St. so seeing these images have had a significant impact on me. So many businesses, studios and livelihoods in this area were swept away by this storm. Donations will be used for rebuilding efforts for the Glen Rock Buildings to cover interior repairs and costs that insurance won’t cover. See the full list of businesses on their GoFundMe page.

Restore Marquee for Asheville's Artists

Marquee was the home for over 300 artists. It was one of my favorite places in the River Arts District to experience local art and bring visitors. Not only was the building completely destroyed by the 15 feet of water that flooded it, but the artists lost nearly everything. By supporting this fundraiser, you can help so many artists, makers and antique dealers have a home again.

Wild Abundance Disaster Relief Fund

Wild Abundance is located in Barnardsville and offers gardening and carpentry classes with a focus on tiny house construction, earth skills and permaculture. Barnardsville was hit particularly hard during the hurricane so they've created a disaster relief fund to rebuild the community, support those in need and help sustain Wild Abundance during this time. Check out the link to read more details.

Flow at Foundy

Flow at Foundy is a hot yoga and fitness studio that only opened 6 months before Hurricane Helene destroyed their new space. My friend Alyssa of Amp’d Designs recently finished up their beautiful new branding. Funds raised will help them navigate this difficult period, covering substantial financial losses, supporting their incredible instructors, settling outstanding debts, and refunding clients.

The Regeneration Station / Junk Recyclers

I’ve had the pleasure of working with The Regeneration Station over the years to design and update their website. Their warehouse was filled to the brim with mid century, vintage and repurposed collectibles and it was always such a fun experience shopping there. Hurricane Helene left them with a total loss and they will not be able to recover from this disaster. They have decided to put all their energy behind their other awesome business, The Junk Recyclers. Consider donating to their GoFundMe to help them rebuild.

Ruff Life

Ruff Life is a dog training business owned by a friend of mine and their facility was absolutely ruined by the hurricane. On top of that, Owner Tessa and her wife Erica had their first baby just days after the storm hit leaving them with so many unknowns. Their baby Enzo and mama Erica are doing great, but they have so much to navigate with a newborn and an uncertain future for their business. Donations will help them rebuild and support their staff during this time.

These are just a handful of fundraisers that I’m aware of and will update as I learn more. Please email me at katie@rotanzdesign.com if you know of other local, small businesses that should be on this list. Thank you!

Katie Gillikin
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