Hurricane Helene Relief Resources

My heart physically aches for the people, creatures, plant and fungi kin experiencing unimaginable loss in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The photo here is a picture of me on a solo hike in Grandfather Mountain Preserve in Avery County North Carolina back in February. Touched by the medicine of southern Appalachia during an intimate day I spent there. Less than one week before Helene made landfall I attended the Ani and Wanei Culture Fest hosted at Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Buncombe County NC with some friends. Both counties have been devastated by the storm along with many, many others in the southeastern US. We here at Wild River Wellness have been doing what we can to learn about the best ways to support and contribute to our people and the gigantic aid effort on the ground in Western NC. The mutual aid efforts going on are truly remarkable- a gigantic expression of Gadugi- the Cherokee people’s word for the value of working together- which they shared at the fest that they learned in part from ants (see video below)- who form bridges with their bodies when waterways become obstacles that need to be crossed. Thousands of acres of land, including the ancestral Cherokee lands, have literally been altered beyond comprehension making search and rescue, evacuation, and rebuilding efforts very challenging in some areas. In response the land is being reshaped, traversed, repaired, brought into relationship again by gigantic efforts fueled by Gadugi, by love, necessity, strength, service, resilience, countless resources, and tireless ongoing efforts by the helpers and in a huge way, by the people who call this land home. 

The southern Appalachian mountains are one of the most bio-diverse regions in the temperate world. They are special and special, diverse, unique, beautiful, honoring, resourceful, sometimes feral (in the best ways) humans gravitate there. The plant medicines I use personally and in our practice largely come from these mountains and surrounding flatlands. From the hands of the growers, the farmers, the wild, wild land. The crew here at Wild River Wellness- Dr. Mottola, Colleen and Jessica are literally fed by, housed by, alive because of these mountains, her foothills and the regions that are fed by her waters. If you’re a local client of ours or you have a connection to this place, we know the same is probably true for you. The impact, like the hurricane, is gigantic. The acute, stop-the-bleeding stage of the healing process will begin shifting into long-range planning and rebuilding in the coming weeks. The need for support is and will continue to be great.

For those farther afield, please share what is going on here in the southeastern US. Talk about it. Compassion, empathy, generosity, and ongoing support first stem from awareness of a need. We have compiled vetted lists of the helpers who you can share, support and pour resources into if you're able along with resources for those in need of support. See below for both. The list will continue to evolve and grow as needs evolve and grow. Please reach out to us directly if you have an organization, go fund me, donation campaign, or other resources that may be of help to the recovery efforts so we can update our list accordingly. 

With love and an aching heart touched by the medicine of this place and her people. Together We Rise.

Mutual Aid Organizations Familiar with Western NC & It's Residents
Beloved Asheville Venmo: @BeLoved-Asheville Paypal: BeLovedAsheville
Asheville Survival Program Venmo: @AppMedSolid Cashapp: $streets1de
Pansy Collective Venmo: @pansycollective
Manna Food Bank

National Organizations:
World Central Kitchen- providing free meals & water throughout the Southeastern US
Mutual Aid Disaster Relief
Operation Air Drop

Supply Drop Locations
First check with local folks about needs & nearest local community centers/drop off locales
YMCA's nearest to you 
Operation Air Drop
Charlotte:
      Edge City Brewery 6209 Old Post Rd
      Calvary Baptist Church 2727 Mt Holly-Huntersville Rd

Reproductive Care
North Carolina Reproductive Care Disaster Relief  Venmo: @Taylor-Broussard-2

Mental Health
Therapists offering remote & in person pro bono services

Animal Rescue
Charlotte: Forgotten Now Family Venmo: @Forgottennowfamily Paypal/zelle: Forgottennowfamily@gmail cashapp: $forgottennow family

Local Farmers
Piedmont Culinary Guild WNC Farm Fundraiser
Rebuild BlueBird Farm 

Families Relocating
Tiff  (Cakey Organics) & Julio (OMG Alchemy)
Emergency Shelters

WNC Herbalists, Wellness Educators & those providing Herbal Aid
The Wander School- doc with herbal care resources and donation locations/needs
One Willow Apothecary/Asia Suler
Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine

Income loss
Food And Beverage Industry Workers: Core Gives
Musicians: Musicares

Finding Resources & Volunteer Opportunities  (all of NC)
Organizations above & NC 211

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