Support Asheville Artists Devastated by Helene
Donation protected
My name is Sabrina and I’m raising funds on behalf of my best friends and their community following the devastation of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina.
Foundation Studios in Asheville, an art gallery and community artists collective, was completely submerged with water during Helene. Not only was this art studio a huge source of income for the many artists who inhabit the Asheville area, it also happens to belong to my friends Reid and Jordan. They have poured their heart and soul into creating a place where artists can gain exposure, build community, and earn money for their craft.
All of the artists at Foundation lost years worth of their work, if not all of it, supplies, and worst of all, the source of income they relied on by selling their art in the gallery. Additionally, my friends have lost not only their art, but their business.
But if you know Reid and Jordan, you know this is far more than just a business to them. They care about every one of their artists and friends and community members who walked through their doors. On top of the loss of their entire community, neighbors, and the rest of the tragedy that occurred, a locally owned business is wondering where they’ll go from here.
They are too humble and overwhelmed to personally ask the community for help, knowing the dire situations many are in, losing homes, pets, and loved ones. However, I feel called to help, as I know many of us do, too, and this community and these people are so close to my heart - it just seemed like the right place to start.
Jordan was my first friend in college. We met on the first day we arrived at App State and have been bonded in an amazing way since. Western NC means a lot to both of us. She has been there for me through the hardest times in my life and now I want to show up for her and her Foundation family during theirs.
The studio hopes to receive some money to help rebuild from the government, however we all know how long of a process that can be, if it even happens in the first place. In the meantime, these artists need support, some need food and water and shelter, they need art supplies to continue creating, and they need a fund to help rebuild the studio when the damage is cleared.
Since we’ve been instructed to not travel to Western NC to physically help, this feels like the only way I can during this tragedy. Thank you for reading. No amount is too small, they will appreciate it all.
And if you cannot donate yourself, please share and continue to pray for and support the Western North Carolina community - they need us all right now.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sabrina Uphoff
Organizer
Troutman, NC
Foundation Studios
Beneficiary