How to Support Western NC Businesses Hurt by Hurricane Helene

At this point, I’m sure you know. Or maybe you don’t know. Either way, Hurricane Helene left a region in shambles and we’re all trying our best to support to those in need.

That includes supporting Western NC businesses, which we’re trying to do here. Below, you’ll find a working list of ways you can support businesses in Western NC via their local Chambers of Commerce, downtown organizations, and other ways.

Due to a few counties thankfully being spared by Helene, we’ve organized the guide into the following sections:

• Help Western NC Businesses by County
• Western NC Counties Welcoming Visitors
• More Places to Go in NC (While Supporting Western NC Businesses!)

How to Support Chimney Rock and Lake Lure Businesses After Helene

How to Support Bakersville and Spruce Pine Businesses After Helene

How to Help Western NC Relief and Recovery Efforts

How to Help Madison County NC Businesses After Hurricane Helene

How to Help Local Businesses in McDowell County (Marion, Old Fort, and More)

How to Help Businesses in Burnsville and Yancey County After Hurricane Helene

How to Help Businesses in Boone and Watauga County After Hurricane Helene

How to Help Businesses in Avery County NC (Banner Elk, Sugar Mountain, and More)

Note: If there’s a place or group that we’ve left out, please let us know by visiting our contact page.

Help Western NC Businesses (Listed By County)

If you know about any specific businesses to support, let us know by emailing us. Until we hear from you, here are some ways you can help Western NC businesses by county:

• Ashe County
  • Ashe County Chamber of Commerce
  • Lansing Recovery
• Avery County
  • Build Back Avery with the Avery County Young Professionals
  • Banner Elk Crisis Support
• Buncombe County (Asheville, Black Mountain, Fairview, and More)
  • Arts AVL
• Burke County
  • More Info Coming Soon: A lot of information in this guide came from the Burke County Chamber’s Hurricane Helene Resource Page.
• Cleveland County
  • More Info Coming Soon: The Cleveland County Chamber’s Facebook Page has been very active posting support for businesses and citizens.
• Haywood County
  • More Info Coming Soon
• Henderson County
  • Hip Hendo is a great resource that includes Restaurants in the area.
• Jackson County
  • Thanks to the Jackson County Chamber’s Facebook Page, we found this organization will help you find a business to support by calling 828-586-2155 during open hours.
• McDowell County (Marion, Old Fort, and More)
  • McDowell County Business Donations
• Madison County
  • Madison County Business Donations
  • Hot Springs Businesses 
  • Town of Hot Springs
  • Downtown Marshall Association
• Mitchell County
  • Community Organizations
    • Buladean Community Foundation
    • Downtown Spruce Pine Business Donations: Downtown Spruce Pine has set up fundraisers on both Paypal and Facebook.
    • Helping Mitchell County Businesses Recover
    • Penland School of Craft
    • Toe River Arts Disaster Recovery Fund for Mitchell and Yancey County Artists
    • Treats Studios Aid for Artists
• Polk County
  • Saluda Downtown Foundation Donations
  • More Info Coming Soon
• Rutherford County
  • Community Organizations
    • Rutherford Bound
    • The Official Chimney Rock Disaster Fund
    • Friends of the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge Donations
    • Emergency Lodging
      • Distinctive Mountain Lodging: Check availability. They are offering discounted lodging to first responders and Helene-affected residents.
• Transylvania County
  • Rebuild Cedar Mountain: Support Our Small Businesses Page
  • More Info Coming Soon
• Watauga County
  • Community Organizations
    • Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation
    • Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation
    • Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture
    • The Build for Good Foundation
    • Casting Bread
    • Children’s Council of Watauga County
    • Common Good Co. Project Do Good
    • F.A.R.M. Café
    • High Country Food Hub
    • Hospitality House NWNC
    • Hunger & Health Coalition
    • Mustard Seed’s Project Community Roots
    • Turchin Center for the Fine Arts Annual Membership Fund
    • Watauga Arts Council Hope After Helene Fund
    • Wine to Water Hurricane Helene Response
  • Businesses in Boone and Watauga County
• Yancey County
  • More Info Coming Soon

Western NC Counties Welcoming Visitors

There are some areas of Western North Carolina welcoming tourists. This is largely because some counties were mostly spared from the devastation that is plaguing their neighbors.

If you’d like to support these places from afar, here are some links to support your favorite businesses in these Western NC counties and Cherokee:

• Cherokee
  • Visit Cherokee Shopping and Restaurants Directory
• Cherokee County
  • Cherokee County Business Directory
• Clay County
  • The Clay County Chamber of Commerce Facebook Page is posting events and happenings in the area.
• Graham County
  • More Info Coming Soon
• Swain County
  • GreatSmokies.com Business Directory
  • Swain County local Lil Blue Boo on Facebook posted a list of businesses that could use support due to an excess of cancellations. That list was actually the inspiration for this guide and similar guides to come.
• Wilkes County
  • Dining in Wilkes County
  • Lodging in Wilkes County
  • Shopping in Wilkes County

More Places to Go in NC!

You know what else you can do while supporting these wonderful businesses in Western NC? You can check out Central North Carolina and Eastern North Carolina!

Based on what we’ve seen, businesses throughout these regions are doing their part to support Western North Carolina.

So if you travel around the state, you’ll essentially be supporting all of our businesses. Is your mind blown from thinking about that possibility, too?

What Else Can We Do to Help?

Are there any other ways we can help businesses in Western North Carolina? Let us know in the comments.

You can also share your favorite businesses in Western NC in our North Carolina Travel Facebook Group.