Helene Recovery

Blue Ridge Pride: Hurricane Helene Recovery Fund. We have established this fund to assist the LGBTQlA2S+ community in recovery from Hurricane Helene. Funds will be used for supplies, distribution, and mental health support.

Only weeks ago, a brutal storm that is aptly being compared to Katrina ripped through our entire service area, causing unimaginable damage, and taking with it over 100 people from our region, including members of our queer community.

To aid in the recovery, Blue Ridge Pride has launched several initiatives for the LGBTQIA2S+ community, all of which can be supported through donating to our Hurricane Helene Recovery Fund:

  • Weekly Distribution: Our office at 1330 Patton Ave. Suite A is open every week on Mondays 2-6 PM and Wednesdays 12-4 PM with free supplies: food, cleaning and hygiene supplies, cold weather accessories, pet and baby food, and more.

  • 1:1 Financial Assistance: for property rehab, evacuation, or lost wages support. Up to $400/family, payable to payees. Grocery, hardware, and pharmacy gift cards also available. Apply below:

  • Organization Distribution: We have made $2,000 in donations of survival and cold weather equipment to other nonprofits and mutual aid groups, and will continue this as we see channels of quickest and most-lasting recovery support, such as our next planned donation to area tool libraries.

  • Mental Health Support: We have onboarded a local and queer Counseling Intern to see clients in our new office in West Asheville on a deeply affordable sliding scale ($0-$40). Email Sheri for more information: skeller@blueridgepride.org

  • Volunteer Coordination: We are now taking applications for volunteers who wish to assist with our weekly distribution site or be a part of property rehab teams. Please express interest by filling out our Volunteer application and selecting “Hurricane Relief:”

These efforts are funded in part by an Emergency grant from The Community Foundation of WNC.

Please check out these other queer-led mutual-aid efforts: BeLoved Asheville, Pansy Collective, Rural Organizing and Resilience, Tranzmission

The WNC Mutual Aid Switchboard is connecting folks in need with teams to help, including:

  • Medical Support (Wellness Checks, Medical Supplies, Pop-Up Clinics)

  • All the incredible supply distros all throughout the region, as well as supply deliveries for those that cannot get to their nearest distro

  • Different crews providing community scale water and flush water

  • The epic chainsaw folks going around and helping folks with tree work

  • Volunteer crews to help with Muck & Gut and Home Repair

Text “Helene” to 51905 or fill out their request form:

Weekly LGBTQIA2S+ Resource Centers & Community Spaces

Hosted by Blue Ridge Pride, Campaign for Southern Equality, and Tranzmission

Mondays

Blue Ridge Pride Resource Center, 2 - 6 PM

1330 Patton Avenue, Suite A

Food, baby supplies, hygiene supplies, pet food, cold weather items, apply for direct financial assistance

Tuesdays

Tranzmission: Supplies/Dry Goods Distribution, 4 - 6 PM

Trash bags, Pet food and supplies, Cleaning products, Diapers and Wet Wipes, Toilet paper, Menstrual products, hygiene supplies, Clothes, cold weather items, masks, water, and flush water

Email info@tranzmission.org for location and any questions.

Wednesdays

Blue Ridge Pride Resource Center, 12 - 4 PM

1330 Patton Avenue, Suite A, Asheville

Food, baby supplies, hygiene supplies, pet food, cold weather items, apply for direct financial assistance

Thursdays

Campaign for Southern Equality Supply & Resource Center, 11 AM  -  5 PM

20 Oak Street, Asheville (downtown) 

Health, hygiene and wellness supplies (including binders, menstrual products, make up); winter clothing; household items; support navigating LBTQ+ friendly resources

Tranzmission Resource Center, 4 - 6 PM

Food pantry, household items, clothing closet, and application for microgrants

Email info@tranzmission.org for location

Fridays

Tranzmission Resource Center, 4 - 6 PM

Food pantry, household items, clothing closet, and application for microgrants

Email info@tranzmission.org for location

Saturdays

Tranzmission Resource Center, 4 - 6 PM

Food pantry, household items, clothing closet, and application for microgrants

Email info@tranzmission.org for location

Other Resources

The City of Asheville and Buncombe County share emergency and recovery news on their websites.

Blue Ridge Public Radio has a text-only site for following the most recent updates on low band-width: https://text.bpr.org/

You can apply for FEMA assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362. More information from FEMA about Hurricane Helene can be found here: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4827

A collection of mutual aid efforts and community-compiled resources can be found here: https://linktr.ee/wnc.helene.aid

LGBTQ+ Inclusive Resource Centers:

  • BeLoved Relief Center, at 32 Old Charlotte Highway, is open Monday-Saturday 9 AM-4:30 PM, providing food, baby supplies, health, hygiene and wellness supplies, household items, and clothing.

  • Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Relief Center, at 789 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, is open every day 12 - 4 PM, providing food, baby supplies, health, hygiene, and wellness supplies, household items, and resource navigation.