Save Beacon Village

Help the people of Beacon Village rebuild their homes.

On Friday, September 27, Hurricane Helene unleashed a thousand-year flood event that destroyed over 24 homes in the community of Beacon Village in Swannanoa, NC. EVERYTHING was lost in the flooding of our homes, several of which have been in families for generations.

Residents do not have flood insurance, as the area is not in a flood plain. People living in these 100 year-old mill houses work hard for a living and will lose their homes without help. As of 10/10/2024, over half the flooded homes have been cleared and gutted, solely through the efforts of volunteers and neighbors, without assistance from the government.

We, the Beacon Villagers, have built a plan to distribute funds to households and homeowners for relief, recovery, and restoration. Our houses, our homes, may be seriously damaged, but our sense of community will survive.

All funds will go directly towards rebuilding these homes and restoring hope in the lives of the displaced residents when they need it most. Estimated reconstruction costs are up to $200,000 per home. The funds will be professionally managed by trusted community members for equitable distribution directly to flood victims on a regular schedule, which began in November. We are working with an attorney (pro bono) to apply for 501(c)3 non-profit status and will let donors know when donations will be eligible for tax deduction. GoFundMe is the first step in our multi-million dollar plan to save these homes. If you have additional resource contacts or suggestions, please let us know.

Every dollar counts. It takes a village to build a village, and we are looking for our beacon of hope.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for being a part of saving Beacon Village.

Note: We will be posting picture and video updates to our GoFundMe page so our donors can follow the progress of rebuilding and see their dollars hard at work.

This fundraiser is administered by Karla Gay, Beacon Village homeowner, on behalf of the organized residents of Edwards Avenue in Beacon Village who are affected by hurricane helene. Transfers from GoFundMe are deposited into a bank account solely dedicated to the receipt of these funds. Funds are equitably distributed on a monthly basis to residents who fill out an intake form and provide proof of their residency or home ownership in the affected area. Deposit and distribution accounting is reviewed by additional community members.

If you want to mail in a donation or receive instructions to make a tax deductible donation, please contact us. A local church has agreed to take donations on our behalf for tax-deductibility until our application for non-profit status receives approval.

For more information, questions, or to complete a Beacon Village Resident Intake Form, contact us through this GoFundMe site.