Rebuild Hot Springs: Support Local Businesses

My name is Raven Newsom, and last week my hometown of Hot Springs, North Carolina, was devastated by the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. Our entire Main Street was completely flooded. It has destroyed several buildings and parts of our road. It has left so many people without jobs and livelihoods.

I am starting this GoFundMe to give money to the businesses that choose to try to rebuild and the local businesses who will go under without support. Sadly, not everyone is going to try and rebuild. The bare bones of it is there just isn’t enough money to go around. It’s times like these when your heart hurts for your community. Any donation that can be spared could be a part of making a world of difference for the people and future of Hot Springs.

We are already an incredibly rural area with very little funding coming in and out of the town. We have a population of less than 600 people, and many of our businesses on Main Street have been completely ruined. Our businesses in town are our infrastructure; they are what keeps our town going. Without businesses in town, our town could very possibly fade away. Not to mention the number of people in town who have lost their jobs and livelihoods due to their business being flooded.

It’s a hard thing to ask for help sometimes; I certainly have found it difficult in my life before. Pride is a tough thing to work around. I am truly proud of my little hometown, and I have been proud of it my whole life. I have made thousands of memories here. From the age of 6, I’ve sold cupcakes, brownies, and jewelry on Main Street to hikers and the people of our town. Anyone that has been to Hot Springs knows that it is special. So this is one of the times that it’s not hard at all; my town truly needs help.