In the wake of Hurricane Helene's destruction, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County (UWABC) is working alongside our valued partners to help our community recover and rebuild. Experts specializing in natural disasters tell us recovery efforts will take at least a decade. This organization and its staff are 100% committed to this endeavor.

As a trusted nonprofit, UWABC brings people, partners, and resources together to tackle issues too big for any of us to solve alone. With over 100 years of service, we stay focused on helping students succeed, families stay stable, and our whole community recover fairly. We’re in this together, and by working as one, we will rebuild—BUNCOMBE STRONG | BUNCOMBE UNITED.

The Road Ahead

Moving forward, our recovery strategy will focus on three key areas:

Securing Donations and Making Investments

UWABC has a long history of raising funds for important community work. Our team has already raised over $5M for relief and recovery efforts in Buncombe County, but we have much more to do with an estimated 8-10-year recovery period ahead of us.

Where Will Those Dollars Go?

30% Relief Work — funding to meet the urgent needs of our community
60% Recovery Work — strategic funding to address mid to long-term recovery efforts
10% UWABC's Relief and Recovery Work — including raising and distributing goods and resources, mobilizing thousands of volunteers, and coordinating response efforts and information between nonprofits, government, and business partners in our community

Learn More About Organizations Funded To Date

Mobilizing Volunteers

Mobilizing the community through volunteerism will continue to play a critical role in our recovery strategy. United Way's Volunteer Center, Hands On Asheville-Buncombe, is the largest listing of volunteer opportunities in our area. This resource will continue to aid recovery efforts in two ways:

Supporting Nonprofit and Community Groups

Organizations needing volunteers can log on using the button below, create a profile (if they don't have one), list their needs, and recruit volunteers.

Recruiting Volunteers to Meet Community Needs

Individuals wanting to volunteer can log on using the button below, sign up to create an account (if they don't have one), and find opportunities to volunteer.

GET HELP For Your Nonprofit

GIVE HELP Volunteer Today

Supporting Community Resilience and Civic Infrastructure

When this disaster happened, we quickly connected with other United Way groups that had dealt with similar disasters, like Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, and the Maui fires. Their advice was very helpful as we figured out what to do next.

One big lesson? United Way is strong because of the wide network we’ve built over many years. The trust and connections we’ve made helped us move fast to get resources to the people who needed them.

Since the disaster, we've worked hard to bring people together:

We stay in touch with local government leaders to connect their recovery plans with local groups, nonprofits, and business partners.
We help our partners share updates with NC211 so their database has the latest information.
And we are helping to convene relief and recovery partners to establish a Long-Term Recovery Group, making sure everyone affected by Helene gets help and we are all better prepared for future disasters.

We’ll share more updates as plans come together.

There is More to Do

Your donation to our Helene Fund or our annual Live United Fund will go a long way to support our community:

DONATE NOW to Helene Recovery

Support Our Year Round Work

Stay Connected

UWABC sends two monthly newsletters, one covering our core work, and the other on volunteer opportunities. These newsletters are a great way to stay informed and engaged in our community. Sign up today!

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

GET UPDATES ABOUT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

The Latest

Stories are the heart of community. During this difficult time, we have been humbled to see neighbors supporting neighbors, and entire communities coming together to offer help, respite, and hope. We've tried to capture what that looks like and encourage you to explore the content below. Please bookmark this page and visit often as this content is updated regularly.

Land, Legacy, and Love: A New Home after Hurricane Helene

Resources

Individuals

FEMA: To apply for disaster assistance, including financial support:
- Phone: 1-800-621-3362
- Website: (Hurricane Helene)
Dial 2-1-1 (24/7) for NON-EMERGENCY requests for information. This includes locations of shelters, how to find help with food or water, and later information about FEMA and other rebuilding support efforts.
Support local relief efforts: Donate Supplies
Buncombe County Government Community Resources Website

Nonprofit and Community Partners

Your NC 211 Listing
- Is your agency listed in the 211 database? Make sure your nonprofit profile is up to date. (especially if your hours, services, or contact information have changed during the crisis)
- Not listed? Here's how to ensure callers to the 24/7 information and referral line know about you.
Funding Opportunities
- NC Disaster Relief Fund Application - up to $10,000 in operational funds for nonprofits
- Dogwood Health Trust - information about their process and a list of regional funding resources
Request Supplies: Nonprofits and Community Groups can pick up and request bulk supplies from:
- BeLoved 32 Old Charlotte Hwy
- Hearts With Hands 850 Warren Wilson Road Swannanoa (Contact Alyce with a list of your needs at 828-505-5306)
Learn more about the Long-Term Recovery Group

Hurricane Helene