Help Burning Leaf Rebuild after Hurricane Helene

We are Caleb and Jordan, co-founders of Burning Leaf, a small hemp company based in Asheville, NC. Over the past three years, we’ve worked tirelessly to grow our business, and we were just weeks away from opening our first retail location in the heart of the Biltmore Village. But Hurricane Helene has changed everything.

We have been working doing distribution for years now. This year was dedicated to growth. We sunk tens of thousands of dollars into this warehouse space. We had just bought and set up everything for our first retail space. Almost every dollar we had went into growing our business and now years of work is destroyed.

And now everything is gone, the distribution, the retail space, every asset we have built over the last three years.

Our beautiful community has been devastated. The River Arts District, Biltmore Village, and many surrounding areas are unrecognizable, submerged, and shattered by the storm. Lives have been uprooted, homes destroyed, and for days, we had no power, no communication, and no way to check on loved ones.

Like many, our business has been dealt a crushing blow. Our warehouse and retail location had water up to the roof, wiping out everything inside. Over $50,000 worth of inventory, equipment, marketing materials, cabinetry, and retail shelving—all gone in an instant. And the worst part? We didn’t have flood insurance, so our losses are total.

But this campaign isn’t just about us—it’s about the community we love. Even as we faced our own loss, we’ve spent the past few days volunteering, organizing supply efforts, and doing everything we can to help those who need it most. We've used what little resources we have left to make sure people have food, water, and shelter.

Now, we need your help. Not just to rebuild Burning Leaf, but to continue supporting our community in these desperate times. Here’s where your donations will go:

1. Supporting Our Community: We need to buy more supplies for those impacted by the storm, ensuring that families in Western North Carolina are fed, sheltered, and cared for in this critical time.

2. Supporting Our Employees: We want to make sure our team is paid and supported as we all rebuild from this disaster. These people are our family, and we need them to keep their livelihoods intact.

3. Rebuilding Burning Leaf: We’ve poured our heart and soul into this business, and the future of Burning Leaf is now at risk. With your help, we can rebuild what we lost—our inventory, equipment, and the retail location we’ve worked so hard to open.

We’ve held off on creating this campaign, knowing so many in our community are suffering. But now, we must ask for help. We’re fighting not just for Burning Leaf, but for the future of our community. We’ve worked from the ground up to build something special, and we don’t want to see it washed away by this storm.

Please, if you can contribute anything, know that your donation will help us rebuild, support the Asheville community, and ensure that Burning Leaf continues its journey. Every bit helps, and we’re deeply grateful for anything you can give.

This isn’t just about saving a business—it’s about saving the hard work, passion, and dreams that represent Burning Leaf and Asheville’s recovery. Thank you for helping us get back on our feet.

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Help Us Rebuild Burning Leaf & WNC

- Caleb C. Lantz & Jordan Sisk-Johnson

- Co-Founders of Burning Leaf