How Our Community is Supporting Western North Carolina

Over the past two weeks, our brewery has shifted focus from brewing to providing much-needed relief to our friends and family in Western North Carolina (WNC), particularly in the Candler community. The devastation brought by Hurricane Helene has hit hard, but we have come together as a community to support those in need. With the help of local volunteers, organizations, and partnerships, we’ve been able to deliver critical supplies, assist in relief efforts, and continue to show our commitment to the people of WNC.

Our fearless leader, Harmony VanGundy, was born and raised in Candler, NC and has countless ties to the local community. She has been a tireless, fearless, compassionate, and tenacious advocate for her hometown community. She’s poured her heart and soul into these relief efforts, and her unwavering dedication has been an inspiration to us all. Her love for the people of Western NC has made an impact beyond words.

What We’ve Accomplished Together

Thanks to the incredible efforts of Harmony VanGundy and others within the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild, we’ve organized relief efforts across several areas in Western NC, focusing on communities like Candler, Canton, and beyond. Over the last two weeks, volunteers donated, sorted, loaded, and distributed enough essential supplies to fill multiple 26-foot Ryder trucks, a semi, and over a dozen sprinter vans directly to the affected areas.

In addition, large trucks full of supplies have been delivered to Candler, Black Mountain, Asheville, Banner Elk, and Spruce Pine. We’ve also been working closely with local leaders and groups to organize drops in hard-to-reach areas and places that are distant from major donation centers. Jud Watkins (Wrightsville Beach Brewery) has been clearing roads and coordinating search and rescue efforts in Boone, while Frank Bloom (Stagehand Brewing), Lisa McCain Parker (North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild), and others have been tirelessly working to ensure access to the hardest-hit areas. Jay’s Heating and Cooling and the Wake Forest Fire Department have also stepped up, spending hours collecting pallets worth and loading our trucks, as well as running their own trucks delivering loads of water and supplies to those in desperate need.

Together, we managed to collect 10 pallets of supplies plus in just 24 hours AND another 2 sprinter vans in less than 12 hours, showing the strength of our community when we rally for a cause!! We are continuing to work with Phillip’s Farms in Cary to load a Ryder truck each week taking more supplies to our friends at Hominy Baptist Church and the Candler community.

Thank You’s

We want to express our deepest gratitude to all who have contributed to these efforts:

The NC Brewers Guild and the Community Foundation of Western NC for helping us organize and execute these relief missions.
The Wake Forest Wombats and Johnson Brothers for their unwavering support and contributions.
Tyler Parker, Candace, and the brave men and women of the Lake Lure Fire Department for their relentless search and rescue efforts.
Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, Pole Creek Baptist Church, Hominy Baptist Church, and all the local churches that have helped distribute supplies.
Jay’s Heating and Cooling for stepping up and delivering much-needed resources to those in need.
Edit Beer Co. and D’s Bottle Shop have been collecting supplies for us to take.
Phillips Farms for allowing us to use your beautiful farm as our collection point the last two weekends!
Every single volunteer who has contributed time, energy, and compassion to these relief efforts—your kindness has been nothing short of inspiring. A special thanks to Misty Cable Deyo and Christy Cable Frisbee and their families for helping us sort and load on the fly.

What Still Needs to Be Done / How You Can Help

There is still much to be done. We encourage everyone to continue contributing in any way they can:

Donate through the NC Brewers Guild’s page, where links to GoFundMe pages and breweries with drop-off sites are updated daily: NC Beer Craft Brewers’ Guild Hurricane Helene Relief.
If you have connections in the rural towns between Candler and Cherokee or know of specific needs in those areas, please let us know.
WNC has received considerable donations, but they still need our help. It is best to check with the specific area your supplies are headed for their needs, but most commonly right now, the needs are: bleach, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, bread, paper towels, toilet paper, camping supplies, and winter garments. We will continue to post about collections as needed over the next several weeks.
We also need volunteers with large vans or trucks to transport supplies from major drop-off sites to smaller, more isolated communities.

Higher Calling Collab Beer

In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, DSSOLVR, an Asheville-based craft brewery, has launched a collaborative effort with breweries nationwide to brew a special Hazy IPA called “Higher Calling.” The proceeds from this beer will support the rebuilding efforts of breweries and businesses affected in Western NC, with funds going to the NC Craft Brewers Foundation to provide relief grants. This project exemplifies the community spirit of craft brewers across the country coming together to make a difference. Click here to read the press release.

We will be brewing Higher Calling soon. When you purchase this beer from our taproom, 100% of the profits go directly to breweries in WNC affected by Hurricane Helene!

Harmony’s Message to the Community

“My heart feels heavy witnessing the devastation around us. Please, don’t take your loved ones or the simple comforts of daily life for granted. It’s going to get cold soon, and many people are still without power or basic necessities. There are still people missing. In the past two weeks, I’ve watched entire communities come together, people push mud from their storefronts, and rescue helicopters searching day after day. While it’s been overwhelming, it’s also been inspiring to see such resilience. Keep donating—now more than ever, financial contributions are critical as supply banks are stocked for the moment. I’ll continue to keep everyone updated on what’s needed as we move forward.”