10/8/24 Helene Relief Update

Relief Fund Update: $31,117 Raised

The situation in the mountains is rapidly changing, and the CCC is actively working to address immediate needs. Your contributions to this relief fund have been vital for providing direct aid in Western North Carolina (WNC). In the coming weeks, we hope to begin shifting efforts to rehabilitate and reopen climbing areas when and where appropriate. Thank you for your continued support!

Updated Statement:

We’d like to share a brief overview of what you made possible over the past ten days. Since launching the relief fund on Monday, September 30, we have raised over $31,000. These funds have enabled CCC staff and volunteers to provide immediate assistance to partners on the ground in Western North Carolina.

For instance, we have responded to requests from rescue operations in Lake Lure and Chimney Rock, delivering critical supplies such as gas for emergency vehicles, chainsaw fluid, and other essentials for first responders. Our climbing gym partners, both within and outside North Carolina, have shown tremendous support, collecting significant donations that we’ve distributed to hurricane-affected areas. In the past week alone, our volunteers and staff have delivered over a dozen truckloads of supplies to Gerton, Marshall, Black Mountain, Asheville, Lake Lure, Boone, Hendersonville, Tryon, West Jefferson, and other locations. 

Additionally, we have allocated $3,000 to support ‘Total Flight Solutions’ and ‘Support Asheville Community After Hurricane Helene.’ These organizations are conducting daily helicopter evacuations and supply missions to heavily impacted communities as of October 4. We have also been supporting the GoFundMe pages to support out of work employees at Second Gear, The Riveter, and Cultivate Climbing.

We understand many of you are eager to assist on the ground in WNC, and we are too. We’ve compiled information on volunteer opportunities related to the Helene Relief effort, which can be found in this document. If you decide to travel to WNC to volunteer, please ensure you are completely self-sufficient, bringing all necessary food, water, essentials, and personal protective equipment (PPE) for your entire stay. Avoid traveling to areas with unsafe roadways, and do not self-deploy without coordinating with local volunteer organizers to confirm your presence is needed and beneficial.

Thank you for your incredible support. Please continue to support local nonprofits in their relief efforts. Recovery will be a long road, but with your help the work will be less arduous. This community is resilient, and together we will overcome these challenges.

Climbing Areas:

At the CCC, our core mission is based on fulfilling the public need of climbing areas being open and accessible. This mission is critical to our community’s mental, physical, and economic health and well being. Our board, staff, and volunteers are beginning to make damage assessments and accessibility assessments for climbing lands that CCC co-manages or owns.