When we concluded the last Carolina Hurricane Quilt Project in 2019 for victims of Florence and Michael on our North Carolina coast, I never dreamed I’d see the need for one for victims in my own county. But here we are, just weeks after Helene devastated our beloved Western North Carolina mountains. Our county was hard hit in the eastern part, with Bat Cave and Gerton totally destroyed, and major damage throughout the county. Just south of there, in Rutherford county, Chimney Rock and Lake Lure were devastated. North of us, Asheville has restored water service for most of its residents, although it isn’t drinkable out of the tap, only for flushing toilets. Swannanoa was almost destroyed, and rebuilding efforts there will take years. The Swannanoa river overflowed its banks, completely washing away homes along the river. The list of destruction goes on and on. Buncombe County and Asheville are getting the news coverage, but our county and others were hit just as hard. There is much damage to repair, and many people will need help for some months and infrastructure may take years. The Blue Ridge Parkway was closed for the entire length of the road in North Carolina for weeks, and is just now opening up one small section near Blowing Rock. Some sections will be closed for years.
Before the hurricane had passed, our guild president was already getting emails about quilts for victims. We have quilts showing up almost daily from guilds as far away as Alaska. So much so that a few of the local outlets for distribution have said they cannot take any more. Keepsake Quilting has sent hundreds of quilts to western NC, and Lo and Behold Quilts in Black Mountain have collected somewhere close to 3000. Famous bloggers like Pat Sloan have sent quilts from their readers. Our partners at Interfaith Assistance Ministry, Salvation Army, and several local churches have all they can use. We are still collecting for Bat Cave and Lake Lure. So for the next month, I will take any you wish to send. But then, that will be it. Update – I will take quilts through 2025. The need is ongoing in outlying areas such as Columbus, and Gerton.
This amazing shipment arrived last week from Karen in Indiana. She sent 5 completed quilts, and nine additional tops with backings. Our guild members will finish these and distribute them.
The five completed quilts she sent will be taken to Chimney Rock on Friday with a carload.
Our members have been busy finding UFOs in closets to donate, so all our longarm quilters were asked for help. I got started quilting a couple of them.
I used a cloud pantograph to quilt it quickly and send it on to another guild member to finish the binding.
I had lots of time to quilt last week, so it was done in two days.
Next up, this heart quilt top. I loaded it and put a flowing curve pantograph on it.
Once again, I was able to finish it in just a couple of days.
Pam B from Delaware sent in this amazing quilt, with a fall theme and custom quilting. It has fussy cut spirals, amazingly pieced.
The custom quilting is extraordinary. Solid orange areas have a meander, while the black sections have fans, all in variegated thread. The spirals are quilted with echo quilting following the piecing lines.
The corners have nested triangles ruler work quilting, with fans and extra motifs in the borders. Pam has graciously agreed to let us either sell her quilt or use it as a raffle, so it would benefit more people.
The back is just as extraordinary. The proceeds from this quilt will be donated to our local hurricane relief fund, helping to rebuild homes and feed the hungry. It will go up for sale at the Fiber Fair on November 9 for $500. If it doesn’t sell at that venue, it will become a raffle quilt for a local food bank.
On the recovery, there are signs of things looking up. The shelter downtown is closing this week, as everyone who was staying there has been found a home – some temporary in trailers and some in hotels. Others have been able to repair enough to move back home. I cannot find any numbers on how many people are affected, but I would have to say thousands in the six counties most damaged by Helene. So, our guild is dividing up the bounty of quilts, sending them out to affected areas. On Saturday, I picked up a carload from our president. We started by loading up the back seat area.
Then moved on to the back, stuffing in as many as we could. It made a dent in the total, at least for a bit. She says she gets more boxes every day. Another guild member and I will drive these to Chimney Rock on Friday, where we have arranged an escort from the Fire Chief to get us into the damage zone safely. There we will have a distribution point to get these into the hands of those who really need them, especially with cooler weather coming.
So, if you still wish to help, what can you do? If you have not yet shipped a quilt, please donate your quilts in your local area, there is always a need somewhere. Then take the money you would have spent on shipping, and donate it to Interfaith Assistance Ministries – our local food bank and help center right here in Hendersonville serving those in need throughout the county with food, clothing, utility and rent assistance, prescriptions and more. Every dollar counts, even a small donation can make an impact. Some of our quilts are going there as well.
If you had planned to come see some fall color, come to Hendersonville! Our local hotels and bed/breakfasts are open. We never lost our water system, so all clean water here. The Biltmore Estate is reopening on November 2, fully decked out for Christmas. The big Christmas trees will arrive soon. The Estate is easily accessed from Hendersonville on our local roads. Flat Rock Playhouse will have their Christmas show beginning November 29. While you won’t be able to access the Blue Ridge Parkway, or Dupont Forest right now, there is plenty of fall color on every street. Some of our most beautiful roads are not on the parkway, and are open in our county. If you use Waze, it is up to date with what is open and still closed.
Our local bed/breakfasts, private vacation rentals and hotels have rooms available, local restaurants are open, shops in downtown Hendersonville are open and welcoming visitors. Halloween is going to be fun with Treat Street downtown. The art walk Barefootin’ in Hendersonville bears will be auctioned off in November. Our apple orchards are open, with pumpkin patches and corn mazes. You can buy apples, or pick your own late season apples still on the trees.
From our local paper, the Hendersonville Lightning – “Every day we are asked, ‘How can I help?’” says tourism director Michelle Owens. “The best way to help right now is to visit. Employees at attractions, accommodations and in the service industry need to get back to work to put food on their tables, stabilize their families and repair their homes and cars. An impromptu getaway can make a big difference.” Starting in November and running through New Year’s, Hendersonville’s annual “Home for the Holidays” celebration provides another opportunity for travelers to support the recovery.
Bottom Line
You can ship quilts to me until the end of November. 2025.
If you haven’t shipped, and you can donate your quilt locally, please do so, and donate the shipping money to Interfaith Assistance Ministries .
Come visit if you can, our local businesses are open, and rely on tourism. Come enjoy the colors of the season, pumpkins and fall fun!
So, we continue to heal, and want to express our gratitude to everyone who is helping in whatever way they can. Thank you!
From My Carolina Home 
Wonderful, wonderful love in action, Carole! The many efforts will make NC whole again. Local surface miners from here in WV worked hard to make a road between bat Cave and Chimney Rock this past week. I hope you get to see much of the progress on your mission .
Thanks, Rita. I know they are working to build a gravel road along Hwy 9 that washed out. It will take a while, but at least locals, aid workers, infrastructure workers and volunteers can get in now.
Wow — you and your guild and all the donors are simply fantastic. I know those beautiful gifts of love will be cherished for generations to come. I do wish I could visit — the timing isn’t right for me but boy, any guests will help bring back the economy and spirit of your wonderful Carolinians. Well done, Carole.
Thank you for the personal and specific report of life in recovery in your area of North Carolina. The hearts of quilters are large but I was suspecting that a flood of quilts might not be exactly what folks need. Thank you for setting some parameters on quilt donations and suggesting some valued alternatives. I would never have thought of the impact of the hurricane destruction on tourism in the area without your PSA for coming to the area to take part in the fall and early holiday celebration traditions.
Your guild looks to be very busy finishing up donated tops which means setting aside your own projects. A sacrifice and donation of your own time, skill and some supplies for your neighbors in near-by communities. Freely given I am sure, but just as likely unnoticed. Blessings on you and your sister quilters and may be a brother quilters too.
Carole, thank you for sharing an update on one of the most beautiful areas of our country that was so hard hit by Hurricane Helene. I have been reading that a great way to help is to visit the areas that are open. Tourism is a major boost to the economy.
Thank you for this report. I am in Florida and was fortunate to escape Milton’s wrath with only some yard damage. God bless us all – those who donate, those who help in any way and those who receive.
It has been such a wonderful blessing to see (hear and read) how everyone just came together.Neighbor helping neighbor..even neighbors from far away jumping in to help..Sadly it sometimes takes a great “fall” to bring us together.
Many thanks for the informative update. We’ve been to Asheville many times – my mother & aunt were born there, though eventually joined the rest of the family in Cincinnati, OH as young girls. Our local Sr. Center has a trip planned to Biltmore, so I am glad to tell those I know are going that things are open. We’ve just moved, so still in boxes, so not sure a trip from Indiana is in the cards, but I am so glad so many are helping where they are able. Will keep you all in my thoughts & prayers. And as always, look forward to reading whatever suits your fancy to share with your readers!
I’m so glad quilters have responded. My brother-in-law and wife live in Gerton. They were blessed that they had no water damage and just some outside damage from winds. He told of seeing propane tanks floating down the road in front of his house. They finally have power and potable water in his area now, but he’s still a bit afraid of drinking it. He works at Whole Foods so they have been getting drinking water there. The photos he’s sent are just heart breaking. He went with the fire department on rescue missions before his store opened back up and he could get back to work. They still have to go through two check points leaving and entering the area. My heart, thoughts, and prayers are with everyone there.
Hi Carole, I’m in the process of organizing a “Quilting Bee” through St. Margaret’s House an ecumenical retreat center where many guilds have come for retreats. The bad news is that due to their schedule and mine the soonest we could schedule one is for December 10-with December 17 the day to drop off and ship out. If you think this is too late I’ll put the word out and we will gather what we have and ship them out this month. Thanks! Debbie Skinner
What a wonderful thing to do! Thank you! I would suggest doing the sew day as you have scheduled, and ship in January. We may have more people ready to receive later when they have had time to repair homes.
Carole,
Thank you for replying so quickly! Yes, we will hold the shipment until January.
That is exactly what we found here in Northern CA after the huge Campfire that destroyed most of the town of Paradise. Some people took years to finally settle and then they were happy to receive quilts. I am so glad you didn’t have the destruction some did there. Do any of the local businesses have websites where they sell things. Thanks., Karen
Some may have websites, but the destruction of their shops mean they don’t have inventory. I’ll see first hand on Friday when we are escorted into the small town of Bat Cave and Chimney Rock which have almost complete destruction.
Carole …
you do such wonderful work …
I’m so grateful there has been such an outpouring of quilts …
prayers for everyone affected
Carole, you are a great spokesperson for your area. We always love driving through the area on our way to my brother’s home on High Rock Lake. It really is a beautiful area no matter what time of year but especially in the fall.
One thing you can always count on, quilters donating quilts to those in need. I have a quilt boxed & ready to go to you. My Halloween Bell Pull is all quilted & ready to hang.
great update….once the headlines are over too many forget the lasting effects that go on and on…that affect peoples’ lives and local businesses….
Carole,
This is such wonderful news! Sounds like the outpouring of quilts was incredibly massive. We are still praying for all of the folks in NC and other areas that are still trying to recover.
God Bless all of you and keep you safe.
What a wonderful response from so many caring quilters. And from you too Carole, with your wonderful long arm quilting.
Carole,
So grateful to see the hands & feet of Christ, on earth, helping each other in such a generous way. This shows the human spirit of Americans at their best, responding to the needs of others. I’m so glad for all the quilts that have been sent. Our church and many others were collecting coats, among other needs. I was so worried about the survivors and cold weather starting. I’m hoping to soon visit my good friend in Boone, but was trying to wait so as to not hinder rescue and clean-up. I know it will take months or maybe years to rebuild. Someone had said Habitat would be building homes in the Spring which will be a huge blessing for some who now have no home.
Thank you for the update. I passed along your info about places to stay in Hendersonville. I have a friend who will be playing at the Biltmore and thought she might want to look for a place to stay while there.
Again, I enjoyed the retreat last week. Thank you for having all of us, albeit virtually.
Blessings,
Beverly
Thanks, Beverly! I hope you can come. Our part of the world relies on visitors. Ask your friend about the recovery in Boone, they may be ready for visitors sooner than you might think.
Hi Thanks for the current information. As happens with the news media, it moves on to other subjects and leaves events like the conditions after the hurricanes behind. Carol
Oh Carole, I’m so behind with blog reading I didn’t even know the hurricanes affected you… It’s terrible to see the destruction but how wonderful to have all those quilters work so hard on beautiful quilts to donate! Off to catch up on your other posts xx
Thank you for the update, Carole! So many beautiful quilts donated! Thank you for your time and participation, too!
Some very good news in your update. Folks are so resilient, but need those helping hands after such a devastating storm. Thank you for keeping us posted!