Beyond Knitting
When It Rains…
Dear friends,
The news coming out of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Ohio is shockingly terrible.
Hurricane Helene has upended so many lives, businesses, communities.
Entire towns in Florida are gone. Dozens of people are still missing. Western North Carolina is closed. Let that sink in.
Knitters and crocheters are eternally generous. If you know of a yarn maker, designer, yarn shop, knitter/crocheter who has been affected by Hurricane Helene, please leave a comment and a link if possible. They’re going to need support now and for a long time to get through this—it will be weeks before cell phones, water, and electricity return to some places, so sustained help, and heart, are in order. Please do what you can, with donations, volunteering, or messages of encouragement.
Sending love to everybody who is digging out. And my heart breaks for those who have lost loved ones.
Love,
Ann
My heart just breaks for the southern Appalachia region… So many friends and memories have been made there. We have been visiting Western North Carolina for many years in search of the perfect place to retire. The truth is we fall in love with every little town, LYS and restaurant we visit. The people are some of the nicest and kindest we have ever met. A belated birthday and bucket list trip to attend the Marshal Handmade Market and Black Mountain Yarn Shop have been planned for many months. Part of me is hopeful that somehow it will still happen, but in the meantime we plan to donate to a local non-profit that already has boots on the ground. For a comprehensive list of ways to help please visit this website: https://discoverthecarolinas.com/how-to-help-western-nc-hurricane-helene/
I donated to the Red Cross and to the Humane Society. Once basic infrastructure and survival services are well underway I will donate more specifically.
I checked in via text and email with friends and family who live in the affected areas; by yesterday all were able to respond thanks to the massive efforts of the power and communication companies. All were grateful to know that someone was thinking of them.
“Sustained help and heart” are the best action words. Continue to do what you can a month from now, two months from now.
Samaritan’s Purse is a fantastic organization and has boots on the ground for days. A very reputable organization to contribute to and volunteer with.
Keeping my beloved NC and all states in constant prayer.
I am worried about Miss Babs Yarn and the wonderful people who work there. That part of Tennessee was hit, and I know they are impacted. I also love the Black Mountain Yarn Shop and hope they are OK.
Black Mountain Yarn Shop posted that they are safe and trying to get to the shop to check on it.
Miss Babs posted that everyone is okay. No power, etc. but everyone is safe.
World Central Kitchen is on the ground. donate.wck.org
I wholeheartedly co-sign supporting World Central Kitchen. They somehow instantly appear wherever they are needed, from war-torn Ukraine to hurricane-destroyed Haiti to right here in our own backyards. Chef José Andres is an Earth angel.
World Central Kitchen has been an unsung hero for years. Entirely supported by donation. Please help them help others.
Thanks for mentioning wrk.org. I had never heard of them before and a quick review of their website convinced me to make a donation immediately.
wck.org
Blue Ridge Public Radio has a good list of ways to help. https://www.bpr.org/bpr-news/2024-09-28/list-ways-to-donate-and-help-flood-victims-in-western-north-carolina-after-hurricane-helene
The Southeastern Fiber Fair is scheduled for Asheville October 18 – 20.
No word yet as to whether it will happen but the Western NC Agriculture Center where it is held is being used for emergency shelter at this time.
Friends and Fiberworks in Cantler, NC has not made any posts yet.
just got an email from Ann Marie one of the organizers of SAFF. It has been cancelled for 2024. The venue, the Ag Center opposite the Asheville airport is being used as a refuge center so all events there for the month of October are cancelled. I heard on Blue Ridge radio that the Ag Center refuge is now full though don’t quote me on that.
We planned to vend at SAFF. If it is not a go – and at this point, it seems an impossibility as we still can’t even grasp the full extent of what’s been wiped away in that area – I’m planning to see if our booth fee and Airbnb payment can be used to help the area. Even if the SAFF team is able to make a decision already, it seems there’s no way for them to communicate yet. What tragedy this hurricane has brought. I fear we will learn that many little communities are simply gone.
We live part time in Maggie Valley. They still do not have cell phone service but parts of the next town over, Waynesville, can text so we have are getting some updates. Haywood Christian Ministries in Waynesville is an established organization with an excellent reputation (and they could care less about anyone’s religion – they just help). They have been working tirelessly for days and could use everyone’s help: https://hcmnc.org/
Also, Pops Butt’s on the Creek, a local (and Black owned) restaurant is trying to feed people in Maggie Valley and asking for Venmo donations: @popsbuttsonthecreek3
The taco truck is giving out free food in front of the Ingles (which sits on high ground): The zelle is 828-333-1630 for Mi Montanita.
Haywood Christian Ministries and both restaurants are small, local place. They are helping their neighbors but cannot do it alone.
I have not heard anything about our local yarn shop, Maggie Valley Yarn Shop. I hope everyone is okay. The shop is located near the creek so I am not sure when she will reopen. Please place an order if you can – lovely people and lovely yarn in a tiny jewel of a shop.
Debbie, if they flooded out the stock may be destroyed and they cannot fill orders. Plus if the local post office is not functional, etc. However, if they carried Berroco yarns, the company has a program where you can order from the LYS and Berroco will ship the yarn to you: https://berroco.com/dropship/
I just checked and Maggie Valley Yarn Shop are in the program, so that will be a way to support them even if the shop is closed, although they do have to be available to take the order so it might not be possible at this moment:
https://berroco.com/locations/maggie-valley-yarn-shop-maggie-valley/
Another idea would be to buy gift certificates from the shop,particularly if they can manage e-gift cards.
CERF+ is an organization that supplies emergency relief to craftspeople of all types. They have a fiber fund, although I usually give to the general fund. Excellent organization, they saved my BIL’s livelihood after he had a catastrophic accident years ago.
And seconding World Central Kitchen, who answer the immediate need for a decent meal.
The John C. Campbell Folk School in NC also recommended donations to CERF+ as a way to help artists affected by Helene.
Thank you all for sharing this information. When the horrible news started coming in about the devastation and pictures were showing entire towns wiped out, I thought immediately of all the small businesses that would be impacted. And possibly gone. But I KNEW that the fiber and crafting communities would step up. My heart is aching for everyone who has been affected by the hurricane. So much loss. I’m going to donate to more than one of the charities mentioned. Thank you all for the suggestions. I’ll be knitting prayers and love into every stitch for everyone suffering from the damage and losses. ❤️
<3
Black Mountain Yarn shop. I’m not sure if the condition of the shop, but the owners can’t get there yet because of the condition of the roads.
For those of you who are inclined to donate to disaster relief, I recommend Charity Navigator for guidance on where your money will have the most impact. They have assembled a list specifically for this event of recommended charities and their ratings.
https://www.charitynavigator.org/discover-charities/where-to-give/hurricane-helene-2024/
My thoughts and prayers go out to all the organizers and vendors of SAFF. And all the LYS in the area (I love Black Mountain Yarn). And especially all the people affected by this devastating storm.
Just to say we are here. Wish I could be more of a help.
Thanks to everyone who has posted with opportunities to donate. This disaster is unthinkable. My heart is with everyone who has suffered losses.
Purl Emporium is closed for now.
I’m a NC native. I highly recommend NC Disaster Relief
https://www.nc.gov/disaster-relief-fund-faqs
Adella of lolabeanyanco posted that they experienced flood damage and said for those wishing to help to purchase from their ready to ship items. Also kateoatesdesign was affected.
I have donated to Team Rubicon (they are vets who can operate all that heavy machinery to help with tree clearing, among other things), World Central Kitchen, and Lutheran Disaster Relief in the past. They are on the ground now in the affected areas.
With family in East TN and SC, we’ve spent a lot of time in that beautiful region through the years. Our family members are safe and my heart goes out to everyone who has been affected by Helene. We also donate to WCK and Team Rubicon; thank you to everyone listing organizations and fiber artists…they will all need our support in the months to come.
Thank you for this. The far south has been badly hurt as well, from storm surge and from massive tree damage. Georgia’s agricultural areas were wiped out. The cotton crop may be a total loss. Pecan and Peach trees were blown down and will take years to recover.
Please give to the charities of your preference that are in the ground throughout the southeast. This storm hit six states hard!
‘On the ground’ typing on my phone.
Penland Sshool of Craft, located in the small western North Carolina town of Penland, is currently cut off from everything. 40 students and staff are stranded there. It is obvious that they are running short on some supplies and if anyone can contact and find out what is needed It would be a huge help and much appreciated.
Operation BBQ Relief is providing hot meals – they can use donations for fuel and ingredients. Many organizations can only provide cold food but the pitmasters are self-contained and provide many hot meals to residents and helpers.
https://operationbbqrelief.org/
Somebody in one of my online yarning groups is in the affected area and texted a member that she is OK but has no clean water or power, minimal cell service. She may evacuate to somebody who lives close until the infrastructure is restored. We’re going to donate our fall charity crafting to her area via the Blue Elves.
I cannot imagine the devastation. I just donated to the World Kitchen. Thank you for the insight into their efforts.
https://gofund.me/8081ee59
This GFM was started by a young couple who own a bakery/coffee shop in Black Mountain, NC.
I’m supporting them because I know people who live there, and I know many people are needing the basics of food, water & shelter immediately.
thank you for organizing this. i look forward to the information MDK gathers so that we can support the folks.
We’re currently in WNC helping our daughter. She lives in Hendersonville NC and has a tree through her roof. It nearly missed hitting her, also hit the house next door and injured a mom and her baby. They’re bruised, some stitches, but will be ok. While it’s a really big mess for us, it just doesn’t compare to the plight of so many. My heart is overwhelmed… Also trying to help her and get home before our first grandbaby arrives in the next week and a half. Funny how life hits you so many ways at once. Feeling grateful and soared amongst the chaos.
Thank you, Ann, for asking and thanks to all of you who have provided good links for donations. I grew up in Knoxville, TN and have spent a lot of time in the mountains of TN and NC. Will be making donations to help with this unprecedented damage.
Update: The Maggie Valley Yarn Shop is reopening tomorrow and they could use your love and support. Cindy and her staff are wonderful! Another reader let me know that the shop is part of the Berrocco drop ship program: https://berroco.com/dropship/
or you can go right to MVYS’s website to place an order.
The town economy is based on tourism and it will be a while before they are able to welcome visitors again.
Local Cloth, the textile co-op in the River Arts District of Asheville got 10 feet of water through out the shop; all inventory destroyed. They have worked hard over the past several years to establish themselves and support all aspects of textile crafting in order to connect livestock farmers, wool and fabric crafters of all sorts in this region. The email describing the destruction was very sad. Not sure they will be able to build up again but am sure they will try their hardest to get back to where they were.
Local Cloth is beginning their clean up and has a donation page set up on their website: https://localcloth.org/Donate. Janet Hince
Thank you all…these comments are so helpful❣️
I live in Mills River, NC and am in better shape than most, having gotten power back eight days after the storm and with house undamaged. So much devastation and heartbreak throughout the region. One local yarn shop— Sun Dragon Art & Fiber—has sent an email saying they are open for online orders or gift cards, which is currently their only source of income as bills continue to come in. They are in Brevard, NC. Thank you for any support you can give our LYS!
To provide support directly to the fiber community at Local Cloth, which lost everything: https://gofund.me/7869c54f
Both Miss Babs and Purls Yarn Emporium are able to process online orders and USPS is able to pick them up and send them on their way.
As others have said, Black Mountain Yarn Shop is wonderful and absolutely deserves our support ❤️