Support WNC Hurricane Helene Volunteers and Local Businesses
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Hello! I’m Alyssa Smith, founder of Travel Guides Asheville, your go-to online resource for Asheville and its surrounding areas. Since the very beginning of Hurricane Helene, I’ve been deeply involved in relief efforts — coordinating emergency supply drops, managing two Amazon Wish Lists for supply collection & distribution points in Asheville, and sharing real-time updates on my Instagram page, @travelguidesasheville.
As a local business owner, I know how crucial fall tourism is for Asheville and Western North Carolina. These months bring in the visitors and dollars that help sustain our local businesses through the winter. However, many areas simply aren’t equipped to welcome tourists in large numbers yet, so we’re shifting our focus to a different kind of support.
The statistics:
- According to @VisitAsheville, our official tourism board for Asheville & Buncombe County, tourism in our area is projected to drop by 70% in the last quarter of the year, a critical time that typically sustains these businesses through the winter months. This comes on top of over five weeks of closures for some businesses caused by the storm, leaving many struggling to recover.
- According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 40% of small businesses never recover after disasters like Hurricane Helene.
This is a a heartbreaking reality we’re determined to change.
That’s why I’ve launched this GoFundMe campaign—to give you, lovers of Western North Carolina, a direct way to support local businesses, hardworking volunteers, and families in need. Your support could mean the world to someone who’s lost so much.
Here’s how your contribution helps:
- $5-$10 can provide a hot coffee for a relief worker rebuilding storm-damaged homes.
- $20 can mean a warm meal for a volunteer working tirelessly to help their neighbors.
- $75 or more could offer a family who’s lost everything a chance to enjoy a meal together, restoring a sense of normalcy and hope.
Here’s how it works:
I’m compiling a list of open businesses across Western North Carolina (view the full list of participating businesses here)— from Asheville to Boone to Waynesville and beyond — and all funds from this campaign are being used to buy gift cards from these local businesses. I’m personally distributing these gift cards to volunteers, military personnel, first responders, and families in need throughout the region.
But this isn’t just about providing essentials. It’s about letting our community know they’re not alone. It’s about reminding them that there’s a network of love and support standing with them.
You can follow along on Instagram (@travelguidesasheville), where I’m documenting every gift card purchase and distribution so you can see exactly how your support is making a difference.
Together, we can help rebuild our mountain towns and ensure no one is left behind. Your contribution, no matter the size, will make a meaningful impact. Thank you for trusting me and for showing up for Western North Carolina when it’s needed most.
With deep gratitude,
Alyssa Smith
Organizer
Alyssa Smith
Organizer
Asheville, NC