Since Hurricane Helene hit Asheville on September 27, 2024 and brought unknown devastation to our Western North Carolina region, First Baptist Church of Asheville has been a community hub, helping bring together resources, volunteerism, and support from far and wide to those who have been significantly affected. We have three primary ways we are helping with short-term and longer-term recovery:

(1) We have a weekly Free Market on Thursdays from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., open to the whole community, to come shop for clothes, food, supplies, and personal hygiene items (at no cost), and to eat a hot meal around shared tables;

(2)  From September-December 2024, we received over $150,000. As these funds have been growing, leaders in our congregation have been discerning the best ways to utilize each and every dollar. In January we awarded over $50,000 in disaster recovery grants, supporting members, friends, partner organizations, and residents in the region who we don’t yet know, but have the opportunity to help. The extended Counseling and Wellness Grant application closed on Feb. 28, 2025. Recipient award letters were mailed March 13, 2025.

(3) Beginning in February 2025, we will be hosting overnight groups who are doing disaster recovery work in our area. Work sites are coordinated through Baptists on Mission and overnight group stays are coordinated through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. To add your name to a growing list of potential volunteers, click on the “Helene Recovery Efforts Volunteer Sign-Ups” below.

We have a long way to go with our recovery, and as a church, we are committed to embodying the resilient hope and love of Christ in all that we do. Find out more about these specific ministries, including how to volunteer in person or give a financial gift, by accessing the links below.