When Hurricane Helene tore through North Carolina last month, it left behind more than just wrecked homes and flooded streets—it left countless lives upended in its wake. But in times of devastation, the heart of a community often reveals itself in unexpected ways. In Asheville, the soul of the city has always been its food, and now, that soul is feeding more than just appetites—it’s feeding hope.
Asheville’s chefs and foodservice community have turned their kitchens into lifelines, providing comfort and care to those who’ve lost everything. From serving free meals to those in need, like Farm Café (@f.a.r.m.cafe) and Farm Burger (@farmburgerasheville), to organizing fundraising events with limited resources, like Lost Province Brewing (@lostprovince), the culinary community is breathing life back into the heart of the city. It’s not just about feeding people—it’s about restoring the spirit that makes Asheville, Asheville.
We encourage all of you in the Joyce Farms family to support these incredible efforts. You can help by sharing updates, donating, or assisting in keeping these businesses afloat during this challenging time. Many of them are still navigating their own struggles, yet they continue to show that in times of crisis, kindness and community spirit triumph. These initiatives truly showcase the heart of Asheville’s food community!
These are just a few examples of the many contributions. If you know of or are involved with other efforts, we’d love to hear from you—share your stories with us on social media or contact us directly!
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, one of the most urgent needs was access to food. Despite their own challenges, Asheville restaurants, cafes, and breweries have stepped up, offering free or discounted meals to those in need.
Thanks to over 250 donors, Red Fiddle Viddles (@redfiddleviddles) raised more than $50,000, surpassing their fundraising goals. In just three days, they delivered 500 hot meals to shelters and Meals on Wheels, featuring dishes like baked pasta, salads, and gumbo. They used $7,500 of the funds raised to source fresh ingredients from local farms, supporting small businesses in the community. They are continuing to prepare hundreds more meals and are working with Mother Earth Food to deliver them.
On that note, Mother Earth Food (@mother.earth.food) has already delivered over 10,000 hot meals and fresh produce, ensuring that nutritious food reaches those affected while continuing to support local farmers.
Flour (@flouravl) has transformed The S&W Market (@swasheville) into a hub for organizing and delivering supplies. As they put it, "We will cook whatever we can get our hands on, we will find water to make coffee, and we will continue serving as a hub for donations to organize and deploy to the neighborhoods and communities that need them most."
As restaurants extend their support to the community, they are also ensuring their staff—their backbone—remains strong. The hurricane didn’t just affect customers; it deeply impacted the teams keeping these businesses running. Many establishments have stepped up, offering financial assistance, meals, and other relief to their employees, ensuring they have the resources needed to recover.
By selling their new Lotus Hoodie, symbolizing resilience, Chai Pani (@chaipani) & Botiwalla (@botiwallaasheville) are raising funds for their Employee Relief Fund to support their teams through merchandise sales.
Like so many others, Vivian (@vivianasheville) & Tall John's (@talljohns) have set up staff relief funds, providing financial support to help their teams recover from the storm's impact.
Even as they faced their own struggles, many Asheville restaurants' teams, like Beacon Butcher Bar (@beacon_butcher_bar) and the Mills River Taproom at the Sierra Nevada Brewery (@sierranevada), worked tirelessly to reopen quickly—some offering discounts and sharing vital resources to support the community. For these businesses, reopening wasn’t just about getting back to work; it was about providing stability and continuing to be a source of comfort.
Restaurants took, and are still taking, extraordinary steps to balance reopening with ongoing community efforts. Many owners and staff spent their off-hours helping with cleanup while also making sure their doors stayed open. On top of that, they used their platforms to share vital information on available resources, keeping their community informed and connected.
World Central Kitchen or WCK (@wckitchen) has partnered with Asheville’s culinary favorites like Chai Pani (@chaipani), Botiwalla (@botiwallaasheville), Rhubarb (@rhubarbavl), and Bear’s Smokehouse (@bearsasheville) to deliver thousands of hot meals to those impacted by the hurricane. In addition to food, WCK is addressing water shortages by deploying tanks that can supply up to 100,000 gallons of potable water per day, ensuring clean water access in devastated areas. These local establishments are making a powerful impact by working together with WCK to reach those in need.
At Joyce Farms, we were grateful to be able to support relief efforts for those affected by Hurricane Helene through Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC (@nwncfoodbank). By donating over $11,000 worth of meat and poultry products, we’ve helped Second Harvest provide hot meals to first responders, cleanup crews, and families in need. With the help of Providence chefs and volunteers, they are delivering thousands of meals daily.
Second Harvest is urgently seeking volunteers to assist with meal preparation and distribution. Reach out to them to get involved!
The people of Asheville have shown incredible resilience and compassion in response to Hurricane Helene. Through shared meals, open doors, and unwavering support, the culinary community is providing much-needed comfort to those affected. Now, more than ever, there’s a need for all of us to join in—whether by helping with donations, volunteering, or spreading the word. Your involvement can help keep these vital efforts going, offering hope and support to those on the long road to recovery. Let’s continue to stand together for our NC community!
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