[Garden & Gun] The gumption, grit, and resilience of Western North Carolina is on full display following the impact of Hurricane Helene. The region, known for its vibrant arts, food, and outdoors scenes, is currently in the process of reopening, and though the road will be long, signs of hope are appearing: Asheville and Black Mountain, among other communities, have been designated safe to begin planning a visit, and the iconic Biltmore welcomes the public back, just in time for the holiday season. Here are three ways you can help them from afar.
Helping Asheville’s Hospitality Industry Weather the Storm
Powered by artists, chefs, brewers, and makers, Asheville has evolved into an international destination in recent decades. FEMA estimates that 40 percent of small businesses don’t reopen after a disaster, so to ensure Asheville beats that statistic, Explore Asheville, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit, has launched the Always Asheville Fund. This initiative offers emergency grants to small, independent travel and hospitality businesses in Asheville and Buncombe County. By donating, you can help the area’s resilient small businesses get back to showcasing their vibrant city.
Shop Local, Save Local
October typically brings droves of foliage admirers to Western North Carolina. But Hurricane Helene disrupted that tradition. To help local boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and other independent retailers make up the lost income, you can patronize their online shops or visit Love Asheville From Afar, a website that showcases wares from more than five hundred local businesses, from family-owned yarn shops to ceramic arts purveyors. So you can knock out your holiday shopping while doing a little good.
Tune In to Help
Garden & Gun is offering additional support by pledging a portion of all sales of G&G Vinyl Volumes 1 and 2 to the Always Asheville Fund. These albums, which highlight some of the South’s most talented voices, were produced in partnership with Explore Asheville (and in the case of Vol. 2, with AVLFest and Wicked Weed Brewing) and pressed by Asheville’s Citizen Vinyl. This holiday season, give the gift of great music—and help this remarkable community thrive again—with G&G Vinyl.
Donate to the Always Asheville Fund
Support Love Asheville From Afar
Shop G&G Vinyl
See Asheville’s resilient spirit and vibrant culture come together in the face of Hurricane Helene here 
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