In the wake of Hurricane Helene's devastation, a coalition of local businesses is coming together for a community fundraising event, “The Long Haul - Hope After Helene,” an event aimed at raising essential funds and supplies for communities deeply impacted by the storm.
The event will be held on Saturday, October 19th, from 10 am to 12 pm at Charles Towne Fermentory, 1750 Signal Point Rd. on James Island. This gathering will offer a morning of movement, community, and music to rally the Charleston community around supporting immediate relief and long-term recovery efforts across Western North Carolina.
Hosted by Meet Us on the Frontlines, Yoloha Yoga, and Charles Towne Fermentory, the event highlights the importance of relational organizing and grassroots work to sustain recovery in the months and years ahead. All proceeds and raffle earnings will benefit:
- Helpmate – A domestic violence shelter in Buncombe County, NC providing critical support and services to families displaced by the storm.
- Asheville Dream Center – A local resource hub providing disaster relief and distribution efforts for affected communities.
- The Burnsville, NC Community – One of the hardest-hit areas, still in need of urgent aid and long-term recovery assistance.
The event will include yoga and movement at 10 am, and food trucks, music, and a raffle from 11 am to 12 pm. Click here to purchase tickets.
“Disasters like Hurricane Helene remind us that climate change doesn’t care about your job, income, religious beliefs, or the color of your skin" said Kate Counts, one of the event organizers and co-founder of Meet Us on the Frontlines, a social justice initiative dedicated to building an engaged community of activists rooted in personal and collective care, empowering individuals to leverage their unique strengths within wider movements for sustainable, long-haul change. "In times of crisis, we are reminded how much we need each other. Political divides disappear, and neighbors come together to help one another. The grassroots, relational organizing we’ve seen in the wake of this disaster proves that deep, community-centered work is what sustains us in the long haul.”
“The Long Haul - Hope After Helene” is just the first in a series of ongoing relief efforts aimed at addressing various needs in different communities.
This inaugural event will focus on immediate crisis relief for families and individuals in the hardest-hit areas of Western North Carolina. Future events will turn attention to sectors like arts and musicians, rebuilding efforts, and mental health support as communities work to recover and rebuild over time.
As donation needs are constantly changing, this event will focus on raising funds so that the benefiting organizations can allocate money wherever it’s needed most. Organizers urge participants to follow the event’s social media channels for updates on specific requested items leading up to the event: @meetusonthefrontlines @yolohastudio @chsfermentory.
For more information, to make a donation, or to learn about the ongoing relief efforts being coordinated in Charleston, visit www.meetusonthefrontlines.com/hopeafterhelene
For supply updates and ways to get involved, follow @meetusonthefrontlines @yolohastudio @chsfermentory