A Different Kind of Shopping List…
Many of you have written asking what you can do to help out the communities in Western North Carolina. Since the holidays are approaching, I have begun compiling a list of businesses that you can patronize online. You can get fabulous gifts, and you will be giving an important gift to individuals and independent enterprises working to get back on their financial feet.
This is just a start. I intend to add to this list. Please do share this list far and wide and near and far and…you get the picture.
The list so far
The headquarters of Asheville Tea Company near Biltmore Village, where sisters Melissa and Jessie Dean package, store, and make their magical blends, floated a mile down the Swannanoa River and split in half on a utility pole. You can pre-order their “Holiday Trio” (I live on “Snow Day” in the winter) which they hope to get shipped out in December. Gift Cards are also available.
Brooke Bergdahl and CoreSelf Pilates are online. I have had the pleasure (and pain) of taking pilates with Brooke, and the delight of knowing her as a person. Her gorgeous studio was destroyed. As she works to rebuild and find a new space, she is still offering virtual classes and 1-on-1 sessions. Oh—did I mention she’s a badass? She also works with professional dancers and athletes, like Olympians and WNBA stars Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart.
The damage to the River Arts District (RAD) has impacted countless artists who make Asheville the wonderful, unique place that it is. Artists like my friend Barbara Fisher—whose work I am privileged to have in my home—have lost their art, studio space, supplies, and more. Many are trying to sell any inventory they have left online or via other galleries or showrooms. A few ways to help artists in particular:
Mora, one of my favorite jewelry stores, is spotlighting local Asheville artists and connecting people to their beautiful creations.
The Southern Highland Craft Guild, whose membership was severely affected by the storm, is hosting an online craft fair until the end of November to directly support artists.
Treats Studios has compiled an extensive list of artists who are taking online orders or are in dire need of donations. Shop for their creations.
Though East Fork pottery itself suffered tremendous loss, the well known and highly sought-after retailer is highlighting artists and local relief organizations in the area while they themselves are in the process of rebuilding. East Fork is donating 5% of their proceeds to support relief efforts.
Hi-Wire Brewing’s RAD location, which housed their headquarters, distribution center, and beer garden, was completely submerged, resulting in the loss of 100% of their packaging inventory and 80% of their finished beer. You can buy their “Beer is Stronger Than Water” T-shirts to directly support the brewery’s recovery, visit one of their other locations, or buy a gift card.
Those of you who know me are quite familiar with my love of soccer in general (and AS Roma, in particular). Asheville’s youth soccer scene has been horrifically impacted by flood damage, which buried its primary field complex in mud and left scores of kids with no idea where—or when—they’ll be able to play again. Asheville Armoury and Just Play WNC have teamed up to raise money to get kids back on the pitch. If you happen to be a fan of the Gunners—or know someone who is—you can opt to get some merch for your donation as well, and all the profits go to rebuilding our youth soccer community. Find out more here.
Many people are familiar with the farm-to-table movement. The vital importance of the “farm” part of that equation cannot be overstated, and local growers are a key element of Asheville’s much lauded restaurant scene. Knowing the people who grow our food is one of the many reasons we love living here. We have bought produce from Green Toe Ground Farm for close to 20 years now, and our friends Nicole and Gaelan have lost nearly all of their biodynamic farm. Gaelen and Nicole are not alone. (The Guardian has an insightful piece on not only the effects of the flooding itself on farms in the area, but the added challenge of rehabilitating the toxic mud that it left behind.) Learn more and donate here.
Businesses not directly affected by flooding or wind were shuttered due to loss of power and water, and are still in financial straits due to the lack of tourist foot traffic during what is normally our busiest season. One of those businesses is our beloved Malaprop’s. If you would like to order personalized, signed copies of my books for the holidays, you can learn more about getting them from Malaprop’s here. But if you intend to shop for ANY books online this holiday, please consider giving your business to Malaprop’s. Also, do check out Binc, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation, which has been helping booksellers in need for more than 25 years.
And if you would like to make a financial donation to the regions’s relief efforts, please contact BeLoved Asheville and MANNA Food Bank.