Rising Light Relief

04/22/2026

The reality after a disaster and after everyone leaves?

Well, when you had entire mountainsides Leveled by straight line 85+ mph winds?

And those trees have laid there for nearly two years, drying out and never been cleared?

They catch fire.

And on Steep mountain terrain? Dense with downed trees and flames leaping?

You go from ‘oh a fire broke out’ at 4pm…to its 2 acres at 4:20… to its 50 acres (or 80 though the reports of that are currently less substantiated) at 7pm. And 0% contained.

So many who lost so much will lose more in the aftermath. And we don’t have the resources to help when they do.

I made an Amazon list the first year before folks fully understood what we were facing. Perhaps you will consider donating to our community and helping us with wildfire preparedness, evacuation preparedness and picking up the pieces for those who will lose homes to these fires. Maybe, and hopefully, not tonight. Maybe we’ll go from 0% contained to safe soon.

But when even high winds are triggering? Evacuated is re-traumatizing all over again. The more we can help give folks the tools to feel any level of empowerment to face these situations when they come- cuz they are and will continue to- well, that’s a blessing that those who haven’t lived through this truly cannot even comprehend.

https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/1TB1P3D9WK4NM?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_ggr-subnav-share_3FEYZPYYXQHR096A8CET&language=en-US

04/15/2026

This post includes foul language. It is Not our normal post. But it is a direct copy of a post our founder put on her own page tonight. Life continues in WNC. We continue to run a food pantry. We continue to hand out heaters and fans and grass seed and vegetable seeds. We distribute sunflower seeds for families just reclaiming their land to detoxify the soil. The founder is continuing to work every week cleaning beads salvaged from one of the flood victims’ homes.

We don’t post as frequently, but the work continues. The founder still lives in and supports the community. And the trauma still informs daily experiences. Apologies if the curses offend anyone, but some experiences continue to be visceral. Driving past ravaged mountainsides daily? Families in need of basic necessities and living in campers nearly two years later? Wildfires sweeping through our mountains? The fish not returned to our streams? S**t, some of the people we LOVE have rebuilt new homes with help from outside agencies. But they drive past the ruins of their old homes to get to the new ones. They have the trigger of a life destroyed clearly on display every damn day and in the same state it was in September 2024.

Why don’t we post as much?

How many times can we tell the same story?

The volunteers stopped coming. The donations stopped. The needs remain but every day our capacity to offer aid decreases. It’s the reality of living through a disaster. The impact LONG outlasts the interest.

Anyway, here is the original post referenced above:

“There is a very compelling and authentic true crime series on Netflix by Dick Wolf (of Law & Order) called Homicide New York.

We all experienced 9/11. Season 3 Episode 5 of this show covers the disaster and it is the most compelling and honest take on it that I’ve ever seen. It’s the officers who responded and their real experiences. A few of the survivors. It is Such an honest portrayal.

I almost turned it off when I realized what the episode was about. I have the same reaction when media features Helene. There is a stupid fu***ng political ad right now that uses our tragedy to disparage an NC politician. Whatever the truth or not of this guy’s role in post-Helene response and recovery or failures in that, I fu***ng hate whoever thinks footage of what we survived is fair fodder. It is triggering as hell.

I wasn’t in NY in 2001. I was a middle schooler in gym class. And absolutely terrified. Because my mom worked in a big building and what might be next. My dad was in the medical field and would he be called to go? It was a child’s response but the fear is something tangible and I know every single one of us remembers where we were 25 years ago.

I cannot imagine the trauma of those who were at the World Trade Center. And I very Sincerely apologize for any single person this post is triggering to. But I was watching the show & realized I hadn’t changed the channel. I always change the channel when a 9/11 documentary comes on. Or anything related to Helene. I’m glad I kept this one on. And the post started just wanting to share like ‘hey, this s**t is well done.’

And I realized in writing the post that to some weird degree, seeing these cops retelling their experiences 25 years ago is kinda cathartic? I couldn’t fathom the experience in 2001. I still cannot now. But, I understand the trauma more now. I understand the survivor’s guilt, the utter chaos, just trying to understand what is happening and help those around you who are more impacted than you are.

This is a rant. And I hope it doesn’t come across wrong. I just mean, it’s a good show. And a very well done episode. And these people are fu***ng heroes. Even Twenty Five years later, we should be shouting from rooftops for every first responder and civilian who saw, faced, and ran into danger and tragedy and inexplicable trauma. And while our tragedy is not the same, I wanna say even nearly two years later- every single person who stepped up to feed a neighbor, offer power or warmth or resources in our community in the aftermath of Helene, I still see you and honor you. You are fu***ng heroes too.

Those of us who live through tragedies and disasters, we’re never the same. So you may not see updates and footage as constantly in the years that follow a disaster… but don’t forget the heroes. Or the victims. Make space to honor them even when it is no longer a headline.”

03/29/2026

Sharing a post from our local animal shelter.

One, because these babies have been through hell already and deserve as many potential Loving homes as possible to see them.

And secondly, because the Yancey shelter is amazing. This is such an honest and responsible post. These babies are gorgeous and it would be easy to post photos of cute pups and let them go to whatever adopters. This shelter takes the mission seriously and gives the information needed for the Right adopters to be found. Bravo Yancey County Humane Society.

Also, anyone want a puppy?? (NGL and idk why, but little Rabbit is reminding me of one of our own post-Helene babies, my love nugget Koda)

02/11/2026

It is a TRAVESTY that we are still this far behind ‘better’ and ‘okay’, let alone ‘fixed’. 17 months. 17 months after a freak storm destroyed our lives and our towns. And ‘there isn’t enough money to reconnect HOMES CUT OFF FROM PUBLIC ROADWAYS SINCE HELENE’ - far from enough in fact.

This is not a third world country. People should not be Hiking to the road or their vehicles. Should not be reliant on ATVs to leave their homes. This is Not Okay.

North Carolina only has enough money to repair around 300 of the thousands of private roads and bridges damaged by Hurricane Helene, state officials said at a Monday meeting for the Governor's Recovery Office of Western North Carolina.

The state launched the $175 million program last year as a way to reconnect the homes that have remained cut off from public roadways since Hurricane Helene.

An initial estimate the governor's office conducted in late 2024 set the damage to private roadways at $460 million. That number has now ballooned to over $500 million.

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

02/07/2026

Mike is a Rockstar and was my WCK contact for nearly a year after Helene. Awesome to see his new venture continuing the WCK mission in Asheville. Funny bit is, all the outtakes to portioning food are my house lol. Teal Burleson & Jean, you’re famous!

02/01/2026

An update on our dear friend David!

You will remember David as the sweet gentleman who came to Rising Light just looking for some clothes not covered in black mold a few months after Helene. We learned that he was living in a pop up camper in late November. In partnership with our friends at Appalachian Navy, we sourced a camper with real walls for David just before Christmas 2024. David has been living in that little camper ever since.

During our anniversary donation drive, we got a pantry cabinet, dishes and glasses for David, in anticipation of the new home Samaritan’s purse was set to build him. Our Executive Director was present when the old home was demolished a little later and since then it’s been a waiting game to see whether David would face another full winter in the little camper.

On Friday, Samaritan’s purse dedicated David’s new home. There is still a bit of work left to finish up, but they graciously made sure to get him in before the snowstorm. David spent most of last night building his new pantry cabinet and has spent this wintry weekend nesting. He reached out today with heartfelt thanks so all those who have followed his story and supported him in this long journey. We are so happy for him & excited to see him warm, able to stretch out a bit, and finally able to settle in to new beginnings.

01/30/2026

Just a quick update for our followers:

Rising Light Relief has been... quiet for a minute. Our team on the ground needed a moment to rest following the termination of the lease of our downtown space. There is still a lot of loose ends from that project to be dealt with, but we have everything in storage awaiting what the next chapter will look like.

The free food pantry has been deployed in light of recent below-freezing weather, an ice storm, and upcoming snow. We have packed and distributed orders for families in need to ensure shelf-stable foods are in their pantries in advance of anticipated power outages. A local network of 10 women have access to the pantry and other supplies to fill needs as they become apparent - deploying locals who Get it & have worked the pantry for months in order to have the greatest impact.

Additionally, we have been boots on the ground with community members. We aren't stocking propane this season, but we are a trusted point of connection for the community and are referring folks to other organizations with fuel as needed. We have also distributed heaters, heated water hoses, lanterns, headlamps, hot hands etc. We sent one of our community size water filtration systems and a water pump to the local income-controlled apartment complex to ensure that in the event of a power-outage, that resource was benefiting the most families possible.

Things look different right now. They aren't glamorous or go-go-go. Quite frankly, our executive director needs a minute without the go-go-go after 16 months. But we are still locals who care about our community. A community who continues to NEED. We are still fighting the fight for our neighbors.

Thank you for your continued support and love as we navigate this time of transition and figure out next steps.

01/23/2026

As anyone who has followed this page knows - we in WNC have learned a lot of lessons the hard way since Helene. I wanted to share some lessons we wish we never had to learn from that storm in hopes they may be thoughts that help your own preparedness.

This is not in any way a comprehensive list of tips. But it is some of the less common ones and things you really don't think of til you've lived through a natural disaster. This storm... we don't know what is coming and it may be nothing to get worked up over. But, I know I feel significantly less anxious because I am prepared.

The flyers in the images have the tips. I also prepared a Pinterest board a while ago with a lot of my favorite essentials - many of which folks don't think to keep on hand. https://pin.it/1dXV2yd2Y

01/07/2026

100% this. It feels like we’re alone in this. And at the same time, no matter how burnt out we get or how desperate the personal financial and physical impact - we leaders still in it can’t walk away. Because so many still need the organizations still helping.

More than a year after Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina, nonprofit leaders say recovery is still far from over.

01/01/2026

Well, we got it done. 11:59pm this photo was taken. The place is utterly pristine.

And LouAnn Banner and I are utterly toast. I said I’ll get back to everyone in the New Year. That starts January 2nd. For New Year’s Day, I’m sleeping.

Stole the 2nd photo from my dear friend Andrea- a true backbone of Rising Light and support for myself this past year of insanity.

The dream didn’t work out in 2025. So we literally closed that chapter on 12/31/25. We start 2026 knowing the dream still lives and hoping it finds its true home and momentum in the year to come.