McDowell County in Western North Carolina contains the charming mountain towns of Marion and Old Fort. The county borders Asheville and Buncombe County to the east and is a popular stop off I-40.
A few weeks ago, Hurricane Helene devastated the Western North Carolina community. The people of McDowell County are attempting to rebuild and recover their livelihoods and need our support.
One way to help from afar is by supporting small businesses and individuals via donations and gift card purchases. In this guide, we’ve compiled as many of them as we can find.
- Local Organizations:
- The Arrowhead Artists and Artisans League (A3L): A3L is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the arts and local artists in Old Fort and the surrounding McDowell community. The non-profit’s galleries, studios, and classrooms were flooded by Helene, and 52 local artists lost their work. A3L has set up a GoFundMe to restore their operations and support the arts community in this time.
- McDowell Chamber of Commerce and McDowell County Schools: Consider donating to the McDowell Chamber of Commerce to support immediate recovery and relief efforts in the wake of the hurricane. Donations will be allocated to the most pressing areas.
- West Marion Inc: West Marion Inc is an advocacy organization in McDowell County. They are accepting donations through PayPal to directly support relief efforts in Old Fort.
- G5 Trail Collective and Camp Grier: A beloved summer camp, Camp Grier and G5 Trail Collective are collecting donations to support McDowell County. They are also hosting a race (which can be done virtually!) in December with funds going to Old Fort residents and businesses.
- Individual Businesses:
- Support Small Businesses Community Rebuilding Fund: A small business owner in Old Fort has started a GoFundMe to support 18 local businesses affected by the hurricane and provide each with $5,000 of direct funding.
- These businesses are:
- Old Fort Bike Shop
- Roots Salon
- Whaley Farm Brewery
- Abbiocco Pizzeria
- Hillman Beer: Of Hillman’s three locations in Asheville, Old Fort, and Morganton, only Morganton is currently operational. Hillman Beer asks for your help by visiting the open location, getting a gift card, and donating to their payroll to support their employees.
- NANU Gallery
- Pampered Pet Spa
- Arrowhead Gallery & Studio Artists
- Seeker Coffee
- PJ’s Breadworks
- Tip Type Studio
- Mountain Top Shuttles
- 27 Main / Twisted Rod
- Euda Wine
- Shaeffer Tire
- GoGo’s Cinnamon Rolls
- Traction Supply Co
- Black Beary’s Cafe
If you know any organizations and businesses in Marion and Old Fort and elsewhere in McDowell County that we missed, please kindly let us know in the comments and we’ll investigate further.
Also, if you know any business owners who have not set up fundraisers, please encourage them to do so or help them make it happen if you can.
We love spotlighting North Carolina events and experiences for our readers. If you’d like your destination, business, or event featured here (above the rest!) or highlighted in other guides, contact us about promotion opportunities!
What Else Can We Do to Help?
Are there any other ways we can help the people and businesses of Rutherford County and elsewhere in Western North Carolina? Let us know in the comments.
You can also share your favorite businesses in our North Carolina Travel Facebook Group.
More Hurricane Helene Resources
We are working on compiling as many resources as possible to help you help the people of Western NC, their towns, and the businesses that make them special. Here are our two main pages dedicated to relief efforts in the area.
- Asheville and Buncombe County Businesses (Black Mountain, Swannanoa, and More)
- Avery County Businesses (Banner Elk, Sugar Mountain, and More)
- Madison County Businesses (Hot Springs, Marshall, and More)
- Mitchell County Businesses (Bakersville and Spruce Pine)
- Rutherford County Businesses (Chimney Rock and Lake Lure)
- Watauga County Businesses (Boone, Blowing Rock, and More)