My son Sam, my daughter in law Tara, & my grandbabies Lilly & Riley live in Western North Carolina (as most of you know who read this newsletter or come to the shop and ask when my next trip will be). They have/are experiencing first hand the effects of Hurricane Helene. They are fine. Having said that, many of the surrounding communities are not,
and won’t be for a very long time to come.
Tara and I are looking for ways to support & sustain the people in that area. We’re not sure what that will look like just yet (rest assured, I’ll let you know when the call to action is.) It could be purchasing pieces from some of the incredible artists and makers (once they are able to start creating again). It could be giving to the local schools. It could be buying propane.
It could even be ‘adopting’ a family to see them through the next several months.
Tara has a unique vantage point, and will be able to determine where and when the greatest needs are.
If you have any ideas you think we could implement or know of anyone who needs a hand, please let us know.
This page - Notes from North Carolina, will be dedicated to updates and information, so please check back often.
I’m also going to leave a direct donation button at the bottom of the page in the event you want to assist in that way.
Thank you.
and won’t be for a very long time to come.
Tara and I are looking for ways to support & sustain the people in that area. We’re not sure what that will look like just yet (rest assured, I’ll let you know when the call to action is.) It could be purchasing pieces from some of the incredible artists and makers (once they are able to start creating again). It could be giving to the local schools. It could be buying propane.
It could even be ‘adopting’ a family to see them through the next several months.
Tara has a unique vantage point, and will be able to determine where and when the greatest needs are.
If you have any ideas you think we could implement or know of anyone who needs a hand, please let us know.
This page - Notes from North Carolina, will be dedicated to updates and information, so please check back often.
I’m also going to leave a direct donation button at the bottom of the page in the event you want to assist in that way.
Thank you.
11/25/24
Hi Everyone,
Things here in NC are still on the mend even as we approach the two month mark since Hurricane Helene made it's mark on us. Many of the towns and communities impacted by the storm are slowly starting to reopen as best they can. A HUGE hit to our mountains was the timing of this storm and how it aligned with the changing of the seasons. Fall is the busiest time of year for our mountain communities, as people come from all over the world to see the amazing beauty that is Appalachia! Sadly, because the storm took out so much, much of this year's beauty was lost. But, the resilience of us mountain folk is showing through in more ways than one. Many businesses are finding creative and unconventional ways to keep their livelihood alive and recover from the storm. One of those wonderful businesses is a local family owned tree farm here in Avery County, Trinity Tree Company, Avery Farms. Avery Farms is the oldest working farm in Avery County. You can read more about it here! https://www.averychristmastrees.com/about-1
NC is one of the largest suppliers of Christmas trees in the world, and most of those are family owned farms here in our mountains. As you can imagine, the damages from the storm has destroyed a majority, if not all of the tress on these farms. Avery Farms is using their resources to salvage what they can of what remains of their tress.
With your donations, our Dragonfly community has helped Avery Farms in their recovery efforts! Every bit of support poured into these businesses and families, not only helps them but helps support and stimulate the local economy as well.
Our goal, through all of this, is to make an impact, no matter how big or small, in the lives of those hit by this storm. And also make that impact lasting! Supporting any small business, in normal times and hard times, supports the heart of every community!
While we have a heavy focus on business in our recovery impact, we have also been paying close attention to the helpers, and the support they are providing. There have been so many amazing organizations that stepped up to the plate here in NC, but one that I have been following closely and have seen first hand here on the ground in NC is Savage Freedoms Relief Operations. The story behind how Savage Freedom started here in NC is one that any parent can relate to. Founder Adam Smith's 3.5 year old daughter lives with her mother in Black Mountain, and when Adam couldn't reach his daughter because of the storm, he moved mountains to get to her! You can read more about Savage Freedom and the impact they are making here. https://www.savagefreedoms.com/savageops
With the donations from our Dragonfly community, we have been able to assist Savage Freedoms in their effort for the people of NC as well as provide donations for their Savage Santa Toy Drive, that will be providing Christmas to many children in our area. You can read more about it here. https://www.savagesanta.org/
We are hoping to be able to get out and assist them in the next few weeks however we can here on the ground, but we cannot thank our Dragonfly community enough for your support! Every donation, every word of encouragement, every prayer and thought about us here in NC. It really does matter, and it lets us know that we are not forgotten. It brings hope to so many who have been feeling hopeless. There is light being found in this darkness that has reignited a faith in humanity and our society. Together we will all rebuild! With the support of our fellow Americans we will come back stronger.
My goal is to keep sharing the stories of Western NC and how those outside of the area can help. As I have said before, the road to recovery is going to be long and not without obstacles, but we will come back from this. And my hope is that one day each and every one of you are able to experience the beauty and the community that is Appalachia for yourselves!
With much love and gratitude!
Tara
Hi Everyone,
Things here in NC are still on the mend even as we approach the two month mark since Hurricane Helene made it's mark on us. Many of the towns and communities impacted by the storm are slowly starting to reopen as best they can. A HUGE hit to our mountains was the timing of this storm and how it aligned with the changing of the seasons. Fall is the busiest time of year for our mountain communities, as people come from all over the world to see the amazing beauty that is Appalachia! Sadly, because the storm took out so much, much of this year's beauty was lost. But, the resilience of us mountain folk is showing through in more ways than one. Many businesses are finding creative and unconventional ways to keep their livelihood alive and recover from the storm. One of those wonderful businesses is a local family owned tree farm here in Avery County, Trinity Tree Company, Avery Farms. Avery Farms is the oldest working farm in Avery County. You can read more about it here! https://www.averychristmastrees.com/about-1
NC is one of the largest suppliers of Christmas trees in the world, and most of those are family owned farms here in our mountains. As you can imagine, the damages from the storm has destroyed a majority, if not all of the tress on these farms. Avery Farms is using their resources to salvage what they can of what remains of their tress.
With your donations, our Dragonfly community has helped Avery Farms in their recovery efforts! Every bit of support poured into these businesses and families, not only helps them but helps support and stimulate the local economy as well.
Our goal, through all of this, is to make an impact, no matter how big or small, in the lives of those hit by this storm. And also make that impact lasting! Supporting any small business, in normal times and hard times, supports the heart of every community!
While we have a heavy focus on business in our recovery impact, we have also been paying close attention to the helpers, and the support they are providing. There have been so many amazing organizations that stepped up to the plate here in NC, but one that I have been following closely and have seen first hand here on the ground in NC is Savage Freedoms Relief Operations. The story behind how Savage Freedom started here in NC is one that any parent can relate to. Founder Adam Smith's 3.5 year old daughter lives with her mother in Black Mountain, and when Adam couldn't reach his daughter because of the storm, he moved mountains to get to her! You can read more about Savage Freedom and the impact they are making here. https://www.savagefreedoms.com/savageops
With the donations from our Dragonfly community, we have been able to assist Savage Freedoms in their effort for the people of NC as well as provide donations for their Savage Santa Toy Drive, that will be providing Christmas to many children in our area. You can read more about it here. https://www.savagesanta.org/
We are hoping to be able to get out and assist them in the next few weeks however we can here on the ground, but we cannot thank our Dragonfly community enough for your support! Every donation, every word of encouragement, every prayer and thought about us here in NC. It really does matter, and it lets us know that we are not forgotten. It brings hope to so many who have been feeling hopeless. There is light being found in this darkness that has reignited a faith in humanity and our society. Together we will all rebuild! With the support of our fellow Americans we will come back stronger.
My goal is to keep sharing the stories of Western NC and how those outside of the area can help. As I have said before, the road to recovery is going to be long and not without obstacles, but we will come back from this. And my hope is that one day each and every one of you are able to experience the beauty and the community that is Appalachia for yourselves!
With much love and gratitude!
Tara
10/15/24
Hi Everyone,
As I am sure Beth has told you, Sam, the kids, and I are all okay. But I cannot say that our area is okay.
On Sept. 27th Hurricane Helene hit the Appalachian Mountains and changed this area forever. Entire towns were washed away in a matter of minutes. Rivers and creeks rose 20+ feet above their maximum levels. Dams failed. Mud slides took out entire mountain sides. Roads and even entire interstates fell into the rivers, completely cutting people off from the outside world. Even still, on this day (10.15.2024) as I am writing this, people do not have means to leave their areas. Millions of people, including us, were plunged into darkness and isolation. No power, no water, no communication. Even emergency services were cut off, meaning for the many people trapped, there was no way to call for help. Heartbreakingly, hundreds, if not a thousand, people did not survive this catastrophic event. There are still many hundreds of people missing, and while rescue efforts are still taking place, unfortunately they are slowly dwindling . A lot of the resources in the area have switched from rescue to recovery. One school still has 136 students unaccounted for. Families have been torn apart. For those that did survive, we are forever changed!
I have heard and seen many times "why didn't they leave?" And the honest answer is, they couldn't.
1. There was not enough time. No one could have predicted this storm to have turned out how it did. These are the mountains, NO ONE expects a hurricane or floods in the mountains! For many people in our area, they also will not have insurance coverage for the damages because they did not have flood or hurricane coverage.
2. They had no where else to go. Everything so many people know is in these mountains, and to leave really wasn't an option. Yes, you can leave your house, but there were no hotels to go to. Everything was booked up already before the storm. And shelters honestly were full. Additionally, some of the shelter locations had to be evacuated because the waters rose even higher than expected. (We had a 911 dispatcher who's family was in a shelter, and the responding officers were heard on the radio reassuring her that her children were okay and safely moved to a more secure location.)
3. Livestock/animals. Many people do not realize that animals are not able to go with you to evacuate. Our area thrives on livestock. People were not going to leave their animals to the storm. And while many were unfortunately lost, many owners were able to set their animals free before the rushing waters took them away.
I do not write just to tell you about the events of that day/weekend, but instead I write to tell you about the people and the heart and soul of these mountains, and the hope that is being found in the mist of all this darkness.
While I have felt the lowest of lows during these past 2.5 weeks, we have also seen the highest of highs. Our communities and our people have proven time and again that the people in this area are survivors! Churches and neighbors have been providing food, shelter, and supplies. Operation Airdrop, Save our Allies, Samaritans Purse, and many other amazing private citizens from North Carolian and other states have made a huge effort and continue to show up for the people of Appalachia! And while we are down now, we will not stay down. But the road ahead, like these mountains, will be a long and winding road. And it is going to take the help of everyone to restore the lives of all those so horribly impacted. Help is still needed, and will continue to be needed for many months, if not years to come. Recovery will not happen overnight. And… the people of Appalachia cannot be forgotten.
Like my family, there are generations of families in these mountains. Families that have never known anywhere else (many people have never left these mountains). Great grandparents all the way down to grand/great grandchildren. Businesses that have been around for over 100 years! For many people who live in these mountains, their livelihood is also these mountains. When you hear that they lost everything, I truly mean everything. Not just their homes, but their means of living and surviving, their only source of income. Small business are the bread and butter of this area.
I, myself, like so many others, am heartbroken. Scared. Scared of what comes next. Sad. Sad for what all has been lost. Places we used to frequent that contained so many memories from my childhood washed away, that unfortunately can never be restored the same. But also HOPEFUL. Hopeful for the future and how Appalachia will rebuild and come back stronger than ever. Hopeful for the sense of community that has been restored and a faith in humanity that had been drifting away these past few years. Neighbors that have come together. Mothers that are holding each other's babies and children that are playing in these powerless streets while parents laugh and cry together. A renewal of the old southern way becoming strong again. A proof that it takes a village and our villages are coming together. The PEOPLE of our nation are coming together.
I have been talking with and helping the community in any way we can. And my hope is to be able to share the stories of this area and our people with you all, in hopes that we are not forgotten!
With all my love from NC,
Tara Davidson
Hi Everyone,
As I am sure Beth has told you, Sam, the kids, and I are all okay. But I cannot say that our area is okay.
On Sept. 27th Hurricane Helene hit the Appalachian Mountains and changed this area forever. Entire towns were washed away in a matter of minutes. Rivers and creeks rose 20+ feet above their maximum levels. Dams failed. Mud slides took out entire mountain sides. Roads and even entire interstates fell into the rivers, completely cutting people off from the outside world. Even still, on this day (10.15.2024) as I am writing this, people do not have means to leave their areas. Millions of people, including us, were plunged into darkness and isolation. No power, no water, no communication. Even emergency services were cut off, meaning for the many people trapped, there was no way to call for help. Heartbreakingly, hundreds, if not a thousand, people did not survive this catastrophic event. There are still many hundreds of people missing, and while rescue efforts are still taking place, unfortunately they are slowly dwindling . A lot of the resources in the area have switched from rescue to recovery. One school still has 136 students unaccounted for. Families have been torn apart. For those that did survive, we are forever changed!
I have heard and seen many times "why didn't they leave?" And the honest answer is, they couldn't.
1. There was not enough time. No one could have predicted this storm to have turned out how it did. These are the mountains, NO ONE expects a hurricane or floods in the mountains! For many people in our area, they also will not have insurance coverage for the damages because they did not have flood or hurricane coverage.
2. They had no where else to go. Everything so many people know is in these mountains, and to leave really wasn't an option. Yes, you can leave your house, but there were no hotels to go to. Everything was booked up already before the storm. And shelters honestly were full. Additionally, some of the shelter locations had to be evacuated because the waters rose even higher than expected. (We had a 911 dispatcher who's family was in a shelter, and the responding officers were heard on the radio reassuring her that her children were okay and safely moved to a more secure location.)
3. Livestock/animals. Many people do not realize that animals are not able to go with you to evacuate. Our area thrives on livestock. People were not going to leave their animals to the storm. And while many were unfortunately lost, many owners were able to set their animals free before the rushing waters took them away.
I do not write just to tell you about the events of that day/weekend, but instead I write to tell you about the people and the heart and soul of these mountains, and the hope that is being found in the mist of all this darkness.
While I have felt the lowest of lows during these past 2.5 weeks, we have also seen the highest of highs. Our communities and our people have proven time and again that the people in this area are survivors! Churches and neighbors have been providing food, shelter, and supplies. Operation Airdrop, Save our Allies, Samaritans Purse, and many other amazing private citizens from North Carolian and other states have made a huge effort and continue to show up for the people of Appalachia! And while we are down now, we will not stay down. But the road ahead, like these mountains, will be a long and winding road. And it is going to take the help of everyone to restore the lives of all those so horribly impacted. Help is still needed, and will continue to be needed for many months, if not years to come. Recovery will not happen overnight. And… the people of Appalachia cannot be forgotten.
Like my family, there are generations of families in these mountains. Families that have never known anywhere else (many people have never left these mountains). Great grandparents all the way down to grand/great grandchildren. Businesses that have been around for over 100 years! For many people who live in these mountains, their livelihood is also these mountains. When you hear that they lost everything, I truly mean everything. Not just their homes, but their means of living and surviving, their only source of income. Small business are the bread and butter of this area.
I, myself, like so many others, am heartbroken. Scared. Scared of what comes next. Sad. Sad for what all has been lost. Places we used to frequent that contained so many memories from my childhood washed away, that unfortunately can never be restored the same. But also HOPEFUL. Hopeful for the future and how Appalachia will rebuild and come back stronger than ever. Hopeful for the sense of community that has been restored and a faith in humanity that had been drifting away these past few years. Neighbors that have come together. Mothers that are holding each other's babies and children that are playing in these powerless streets while parents laugh and cry together. A renewal of the old southern way becoming strong again. A proof that it takes a village and our villages are coming together. The PEOPLE of our nation are coming together.
I have been talking with and helping the community in any way we can. And my hope is to be able to share the stories of this area and our people with you all, in hopes that we are not forgotten!
With all my love from NC,
Tara Davidson