How Our Small Business in Asheville Came Together to Support the Community After Hurricane Helene

As a small business based in the heart of Asheville, North Carolina, we’ve always been deeply connected to the town and its people. When Hurricane Helene struck in September 2024, it had a profoundly devastating impact on our community. Many of our neighbors faced overwhelming damage, and we knew we had to do something to help. That’s when we launched our Asheville Strong campaign—a way for our business to give back to the community we love.

In the aftermath of the hurricane, we knew that the road to recovery would be long, and we wanted to play a part in supporting those affected. During October, November, and December 2024, 100% of the profits from our Asheville products (148) were donated to BeLoved Asheville, a local nonprofit organization that has been doing incredible work helping those impacted by the storm. 

In addition to the Asheville Strong campaign, we also opened our space to companies who had no way to ship their orders out as their buildings had washed away or been completely gutted by the overflowing rivers. We partnered with a cherished local business—Summit Coffee too. We sold Summit Coffee Sweatshirts and Hoodies to raise money for them to rebuild their lost coffee shop in our River Arts District. The combined fundraising from our campaigns reached an incredible total of $50,000, and it was heartwarming to see the community come together in such a powerful way. People showed up and we were blown away. 

As much as we were proud of what we accomplished during that time, we also recognized the importance of sustaining our business for the long term. While we were committed to giving back, we needed to ensure our business could continue to operate but we didn’t want our giving to stop, so we made a commitment to keep supporting the causes that matter to our community.

On January 1, 2025, we decided to keep the momentum going by donating 1% of all sales—both on our website and in our retail store—to non-profits. For now, we’ve chosen to continue supporting BeLoved Asheville, as their work has been instrumental in helping those affected by the hurricane, but we plan to assess and hopefully expand our charitable efforts in the future.

The road to recovery is ongoing, and we’re proud to be part of a community that rises together in times of need. While our small business continues to grow and thrive, we remain committed to making a difference.. Thank you to everyone who helped us raise $50k for BeLoved Asheville and Summit Coffee. We couldn’t have done it without you, and we’re excited to continue this journey of giving back.

At Moonlight Makers, we believe in the transformative power of joy, kindness, and community to create lasting change. That’s why we’re dedicated to donating a portion of our sales to grassroots organizations that share our vision of building a more loving, balanced, and connected world. Every purchase you make helps support organizations focused on empowering communities, renewing hope, and bringing positive change to the world.

Here’s to a strong 2025—Asheville Strong, always