Helene Recovery
Only a few short months 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 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 Monday-Wednesday 10AM-4PM and Thursday by appointment, with free supplies: food, cleaning and hygiene supplies, cold weather accessories, pet and baby food, and more.
1:1 Financial Assistance: From October -January we distributed over $40,000 in direct financial aid, including assisting 71 individuals with grocery/hardware gift cards, 12 households/20 individuals with eviction prevention and 19 performing artists and service workers with cash microgrants. The financial assistance leg of our response has ended as we focus on our distribution site and mental health programming for the long haul of this recovery.
Queer-Led Organization Support: We have made $2,000 in donations of survival and cold weather equipment to other queer-led nonprofits and mutual aid groups (Beloved, Tranzmission, Southside Community Farm), $2,000 for a queer-led power tools workshop series (coming Spring 2025 from Skills Academy for Women), and $1500 to Asheville Drag Brunch so they can continue doing their amazing work supporting other queer nonprofits.
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. Please express interest by filling out our Volunteer application and selecting “Ambassador:”
These efforts are funded in part by an Emergency grant from The Community Foundation of WNC, a disaster grant from United Way of North Carolina, Junior League of Asheville, Asheville Gay Men’s Chorus, and many generous donors.
Please check out these other queer-led mutual-aid efforts: BeLoved Asheville, Pansy Collective, Rural Organizing and Resilience, Tranzmission, Skills Academy for Women
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, 10-4 PM
1330 Patton Avenue, Suite A
Food, baby supplies, hygiene supplies, pet food, cold weather items
Tuesdays
Blue Ridge Pride Resource Center, 10-4PM
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, 10 - 4 PM
1330 Patton Avenue, Suite A, Asheville
Food, baby supplies, hygiene supplies, pet food, cold weather items
Thursdays
Campaign for Southern Equality Supply & Resource Center, 11 AM - 5 PM (now once monthly)
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
Blue Ridge Pride Resource Center 10-4PM-by appointment only
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.