Post-Helene Voluntourism: How to Help the Asheville Area During Your Visit
Like the rest of our neighbors, the Asheville area has shown immense resilience after the heartbreaking losses inflicted by Hurricane Helene. With grit, gumption and a shared sense of purpose, our Appalachian community is working steadily toward recovery.
Visitors can be part of this effort by lending a hand with relief projects, supporting local businesses and joining in neighborhood clean-ups. Voluntourism offers a chance to give back and feel part of the community.
Here are some recommendations on ways to help during a visit and wonderful places to enjoy once you’re done!
Grassroots Aid Partnership (GAP)
120 Alexander Place, Swannanoa, NC – Blunt Pretzels
With the help of volunteers in the kitchen – prepping, cooking and serving – the Grassroots Aid Partnership provides hundreds of daily free lunches and dinners to locals in the Swannanoa and Black Mountain area who need a good, warm meal. GAP always needs volunteers, even if you have limited kitchen experience. They’re also in more need of assistance on weekdays. Sign up to volunteer here.
Post-Volunteer Itinerary: Just down the road from Swannanoa is the cozy mountain town of Black Mountain. Voted "America's Prettiest Small Town" by TripAdvisor, Black Mountain serves as the front porch to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Downtown Black Mountain's infrastructure remained largely untouched by the storm, allowing most of its colorful shops, restaurants and galleries to continue welcoming visitors.
Our Black Mountain page can guide you to the perfect spot to eat, post-volunteer project. Some favorites include Louise’s Kitchen, Cousins Cuban Cafe, Veranda Café, Open Oven and Pure and Proper. Or grab a coffee at Dripolator, an iconic Main St. café, before exploring downtown.
Take a break and soak up the friendly neighborhood atmosphere at Black Mountain Brewing and Lookout Brewing Co. or sit outside in the peaceful meadow at Pisgah Brewing.
Where to Stay: There are some great lodging options near Black Mountain! Check out the Peri Social House, a 1936 Georgian-Revival Summer Home turned coffee and craft beverage bar that houses North Carolina's smallest boutique hotel. The Monte Vista Hotel is another terrific option, offering historic charm with contemporary décor and local art with renowned restaurant, Milton's Cuisine and Cocktails, located on-site.
River Arts District Cleanups
River Arts District – 375 Depot St.
The River Arts District was one of the area’s most heavily affected by Hurricane Helene, and volunteers are needed as the cleanup efforts continue. The neighborhood, once home to more than 300 artists galleries and studios, presents an ideal volunteer opportunity for art-lovers and those who wish to revive the city’s vibrant arts scene. There is no set schedule for volunteering in the RAD, but you can see all upcoming opportunities here. You can also donate directly to RAD artists here.
Post-Volunteer Itinerary: While some businesses in the River Arts District have reopened and are welcoming customers, many have a longer road ahead. Upper RAD, a portion of the neighborhood that was relatively unaffected by flooding, is a safe bet for dining and retail options. We recommend planning ahead and using our River Arts District page to find out what’s open.
If you’re looking for some good eats after volunteering, check out Baby Bull. We recommend the classic Americana smash burgers and fries – the aioli will take your breath away! The menu also features fried fish sandwiches and Vada Pav – a vegan, spiced potato patty. Terrific tacos await you at Grey Eagle Taqueria or if you’re looking for a good afternoon slice, try All Souls Pizza right next door.
Ultra Coffeebar is a great spot for espresso drinks, and Olde London Road English Pub is a local’s favorite watering hole and a fun neighborhood spot place to spend an afternoon – especially for soccer fans. While you’re in the neighborhood, don’t miss the chance to support the local artists and master craftspeople jewelers who continue to create and sell their wares, either by visiting their storefronts or shopping their online stores through Love Asheville from Afar.
Where to Stay: The Radical offers a unique posh-punk attitude packed into a luxury hotel. It is steps away from the River Arts District and a few minutes away from Downtown Asheville.
Equal Plates Project
Downtown Asheville – 40 Church St., Asheville, NC 28801
Join Equal Plates Project's new kitchen at First Presbyterian Church of Asheville to help prepare and package locally sourced, scratch-made meals for locals with limited access to food. Equal Plates Project is a local non-profit connecting small WNC farms, Asheville chefs and the greater community to strengthen the local food system and to share delicious, scratch-made meals with neighbors facing food insecurity. Sign up to volunteer here.
Post-Volunteer Itinerary: Iconic music venues, sidewalk cafes, award-winning restaurants, eclectic shops and renowned museums and art make up Asheville’s downtown. Almost all of downtown Asheville is open and ready for business, its infrastructure having remained largely untouched by the storm.
Use our Downtown Asheville page to find what’s open and how best to enjoy our vibrant downtown scene. Chai Pani’s spacious new location and lunch buffet on the South Slope is a great start, and next door at Catawba Brewing is the perfect place to enjoy a cold beverage outside on a beautiful day. Head to Recline and Unwind Social Spa for some well-earned relaxation before an afternoon of shopping up and down Lexington Avenue. Instant Karma is always a fan favorite. A reviving beverage at Summit Coffee is the perfect tonic before heading to Luminosa for a fine-dining experience. Pro-tip: Have an after-dinner cocktail at the Flat Iron’s rooftop bar, where Luminosa is located.
Make your visit even more memorable by checking out the upcoming events to plan ahead for live music, tours and festivals that offer a chance to feel immersed in the community and its vibrant culture.
Where to Stay: There are endless lodging options in downtown Asheville, from charming Bed & Breakfast Inn's like the 1899 Wright Inn and Carriage House or Abbington Green to boutique hotels like The Windsor or Zelda Dearest. Looking for something right in the heart of downtown? The AC Hotel, Kimpton Arras and the new Moxy Hotel put you right in the center of the action!
West Carolina Rescue Ministry
West Asheville - 44 Westgate Pkwy, Asheville, NC 28806
Western Carolina Ministries is looking for volunteers to help package clothing and shoes for distribution, with shifts ranging from 10 am to 1 pm and 1 pm to 4 pm Monday through Friday. Volunteer sign up is available here.
Post-Volunteer Itinerary: A trip to West Asheville is the perfect way to follow-up a volunteer project, as the neighborhood embodies Asheville’s independent personality. Many of West Asheville’s eateries, breweries, coffee stops, dive bars and one-of-a-kind shops have reopened after Hurricane Helene, returning this quirky neighborhood to a unique vibe that is all its own.
Our West Asheville page will help guide you to what’s open, but we’re also happy to offer a few suggestions, including a stop at One World Brewing West or a cocktail at The Low Down, a quick bite at the Tastee Diner or Sunny Point Café and an entertaining evening featuring classic arcade games at the Asheville Retrocade or two-stepping at the Double Crown, a dive bar that hosts Western-themed nights.
Where to Stay: While you won’t find hotels in West Asheville proper, there are a number of boutique properties, cabins and Airbnbs that let you really feel like a local. Check out the Cabins of Asheville or settle in at the Wrong Way River Lodge and Cabins. Bon Paul and Sharky's Hostel might be your ticket for something a little more funky.
Beloved Asheville
East Asheville - 32 Old Charlotte Hwy Asheville, NC 28803
Beloved Asheville spearheaded many critical aid efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, from cooking meals and delivering food, water, and clothing to cleanups in areas most affected, like the River Arts District and Biltmore Village. You can sign up to get involved here.
Post-Volunteer Itinerary:
The Beloved Asheville headquarters is next to one of Asheville’s most popular and oldest breweries, Highland Brewing Company, which has reopened since the storm. The sprawling brewery campus is the perfect place for a cold one, with plenty of room in the taproom or meadow and a weekly rotation of delicious food trucks and live music.
Beloved is also close to Historic Biltmore Village — the restaurant and shopping district adjacent to the entrance to Biltmore Estate — which was among the region’s most-impacted areas. Biltmore Estate is open and welcoming visitors in time for the holidays, and the roads to enter Biltmore Estate are clear. While some Biltmore Village businesses have reopened, many have a longer road ahead. Support the open breweries, eateries and shops in this historic area by planning ahead and using our Biltmore Village page.
Where to Stay: There are three places to stay on Biltmore Estate. For a more casual experience, choose the Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate, located next to Biltmore Winery. The Inn on Biltmore Estate offers four-star elegance. And, the Cottage on Biltmore Estate is a historic accommodation offering a unique, private experience.