Help Us Rebuild Medicine Wheel Way After Hurricane Helene

Lilly Field is organising this fundraising appeal on behalf of Sharon Oxendine.

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My name is Jessica Ayala, and I am the Program Director of Medicine Wheel Way. Together with the support of Lilly Field, I am here to share Medicine Wheel Way's story in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

On Friday, September 27th, Helene swept through Western North Carolina, leaving widespread devastation in its wake. Among the many affected places was Medicine Wheel Way—a sacred land that has served as a sanctuary for connection, healing, and spiritual growth for so many. The impact was profound: buildings that once sheltered our gatherings were destroyed, the bridge that welcomed us onto the land was swept away, and acres of this cherished space were overtaken by floodwaters, thick mud and debris, cutting off access to this sacred place that has served as a sanctuary for countless individuals seeking community, healing, and renewal.

Medicine Wheel Way has always been more than just land; it’s a haven where individuals have come together for Indigenous ceremonies, youth Rites of Passage, grief circles, and healing rituals. It was also a lifeline for underserved BIPOC youth and a source of resilience for those who felt lost in their daily lives. Guided by Lumbee Elder Sharon Oxendine, known as Black Crow, Medicine Wheel Way has long provided a safe space for cultural preservation, healing, and community support, fostering resilience and unity among people of all backgrounds. But now, the very land that has held so much healing is in desperate need of restoration.

Medicine Wheel Way’s grounds have been transformed by thick mud, debris, and flood damage that has put vital community events, youth programs, and ceremony on hold. As a nonprofit organization, Medicine Wheel Way does not qualify for FEMA assistance, and without flood insurance, the task of rebuilding falls to our community. The estimated cost to restore the land and rebuild the infrastructure, including the bridge and the facilities, is $200,000. $75,000 of which would be required to bring in heavy machinery, clear debris that includes massive amounts of metal in our creek beds, homes and cars that were washed onto the land by mudslides, $15,000 to install the wells, and at least $90,000 to rebuild infrastructure and replace ceremonial supplies.

For those of us who have experienced the power of Medicine Wheel Way, we know that it is more than just a physical space; it is a Village, where fires burn, circles form, and healing runs deep. It’s a place where individuals of all backgrounds find connection, strength, transformation and underserved BIPOC youth find solace in nature. Contributing to this campaign means helping to restore a space that has been a beacon of healing and empowerment for so many.

Every dollar you give brings us closer to rebuilding Medicine Wheel Way and ensuring it remains a haven for future generations. By helping us recover, you are supporting the continuation of youth programs, cultural rituals, indigenous ceremony, and healing gatherings that are more vital now than ever. We are deeply grateful for any support you can provide to help us restore this land, allowing it to continue as a place of unity, healing, and cultural preservation.