Help Mount Mitchell Team Recover from Hurricane

Dear Friends of Mount Mitchell Eco Retreat,

We are reaching out with heartfelt hope and gratitude for your support. Recently, a devastating hurricane swept through our region and much of the surrounding area, leaving communities without power, water, and cell service, and causing significant road damage that has restricted access to our area. With so many disruptions, our staff and neighbors have focused on immediate survival and supporting each other in countless ways.

Our team of eleven dedicated staff members—cleaners, groundskeepers, and coordinators—are truly the heart of Mount Mitchell Eco Retreat. Despite the challenges, they’ve been actively volunteering to help neighbors clean up their land, assisting at distribution centers, and caring for their own families. With schools closed, many of our team members are juggling these efforts while looking after their children. Fall is typically our busiest season, providing crucial income that helps sustain our team through the winter hiatus, when there are minimal shifts available at the Retreat. However, due to the hurricane, we’ve had to close from October through mid-November, losing our peak season and resulting in an estimated collective loss of $48,500 in wages. We have adjusted that amount with how much our team has been receiving in unemployment, donations, and FEMA aid. There's still a gap of just over $15,800 between what our team was relying on and what they have received.

Because much of the work at the Retreat is part-time, many of our team members have not qualified for unemployment benefits, or are receiving only a fraction of what they would have earned had they been able to work. In addition, the uncertainty surrounding road repairs has led to event cancellations, further impacting the team’s ability to recover lost income during this difficult time.

If Mount Mitchell Eco Retreat has brought you peace, joy, or unforgettable memories, we humbly ask you to consider donating here as an “extra tip” for our staff. Your contribution, no matter the size, will go directly to our team, helping them bridge this challenging period until they can return to work in the spring.

We are beyond grateful for the love and support that friends like you have already shown us. Thank you for helping us keep our Mount Mitchell Eco Retreat family strong, resilient, and ready to welcome you back on the other side of these repairs, where nature’s beauty and peace still thrive.

With love and gratitude,

The Mount Mitchell Eco Retreat Team