In Wake of Helene Beacon Foundation Commits to Large-Scale Relief Efforts in Swannanoa NC

Swannanoa -- October 17, 2024: Press Release The Beacon Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 2022 by three Swannanoa, North Carolina-based business owners.

Originally formed to bring revitalization efforts to Swannanoa — a beloved mountain town 11 miles east of Asheville — the foundation has shifted its efforts to rescue, relief and recovery in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

While the Beacon Foundation will vary its allocation of funds moving forward, a donation in the amount of $100k was given on October 3, 2024, to Bounty & Soul, a local non-profit and long-standing community partner. This organization provides no-cost food markets, distribution and education throughout Buncombe County, with most of their work specific to Swannanoa. Bounty & Soul believes in a just and equitable food and health system and in building communities where everyone has the right to eat well, be nourished and thrive. They also support local food growers through their Farmers AllianceTM program and provide culturally aligned services for the region’s Latinx community.

“The recovery phase, post-Helene, will be a marathon, not a sprint,” said Bounty & Soul Founder and Executive Director, Ali Casparian. “The Beacon Foundation’s generous donation not only offers hope, but also sends a clear message that the people of Swannanoa are worthy of relief and the town of Swannanoa is worth rebuilding. We are in absolute gratitude not only for the funds provided by the Beacon Foundation, but for the boots-on-the-ground efforts and dedication of its founders. Their support will have a meaningful impact on our ability to meet the immediate, evolving and ongoing needs of the Swannanoa community.”

Swannanoa, known by its residents as “the valley” is now one of numerous Appalachian towns seeking to make sense of Hurricane Helene’s destruction. In many ways, this once vibrant mill town is experiencing one of the highest levels of devastation in Western North Carolina and is up against not only the complexities brought on by its landscape, but by long-standing and unique challenges related to disproportionate levels of poverty, ethnic disparities and the lack of organization and resources that come with being an unincorporated town. 

At this point, the founders and staff of the Beacon Foundation are focused on fundraising, resource distribution and on-site coordination. Daily, they are participating in the Swannanoa Grassroots Alliance – a committee that emerged in the immediate aftermath of Helene and is providing a centralized hub for residents and volunteers. “We’re not just here for, we are here with,” said Beacon Foundation Co-Founder, Meredith Ellison. “All around us, we see devastation, fear and loss. We also see tremendous bravery and camaraderie; stories of resilience rising from the rubble. We have chosen to make our first donation to Bounty & Soul because of their steadfast commitment to this region, its people and their needs. We have full confidence in their ability to make every dollar matter, and we’ll be here to do the work that dollars alone cannot get done. Hope flows through Swannanoa, North Carolina. We’re here for the valley.”

While hope does prevail, it is also true that Swannanoa’s road to recovery will be long, arduous and complex. Many are still unaccounted for, unemployment is skyrocketing, basic utilities have not been restored and communication remains spotty at best. Already, the chill of early fall has arrived, further complicating life for those who continue to call this place “home.” 

To learn more, follow progress, or help, please visit wncbeaconfoundation.org. All media inquiries should be directed to media@atthebeacon.com.

About Beacon Foundation
The Beacon Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 2022 by Swannanoa-based business owners: Casey Watkins, Meredith Ellison and Brandon Ellison. Originally formed to bring revitalization efforts to Swannanoa, the foundation now exists to provide the valley town with rescue, relief and recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Learn more at wncbeaconfoundation.org.

About Bounty & Soul
Bounty & Soul, founded in 2014, is a nonprofit organization that connects, shares and celebrates nutritious food, education and community through weekly markets serving multiple counties in WNC. The organization is committed to advancing food and health equity while strengthening the local food system, serving as a champion of change through their community-led model. Learn more at bountyandsoul.org.