Updated with Fox Factory's employee-assistance fund.
HILDEBRAN, N.C. (BRAIN) — Residents affected by Hurricane Helene are only beginning to recover days after the storm left destruction from Florida to Virginia. Industry members are establishing ways to support recovery remotely.
Hildebran, North Carolina, sock maker DeFeet International was unaffected by the storm and its employees have been working to assist recovery efforts. The company also is offering a special edition MTN Strong sock with 100% of proceeds donated to relief efforts.
Newton, North Carolina, sock brand Feetures donated 100% of the proceeds of its online sales from Wednesday to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund.
Other funds:
- Respond-Recover-Ride Together fund for Helene Relief: Proceeds Gravelo Workshop’s fundraising efforts from items such as clothing, water bottles, and totes, will benefit the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina and support Gravelo’s employees (unless it is not needed, then any extra will be donated to the CFWNC). gravelo-workshop.com/shop
- Second Gear GoFundMe: The store specializing in consignment outdoor gear on Riverside Drive in Asheville's River Arts District was destroyed during the flooding. gofundme.com/f/support-second-gears-recovery-and-staff
- Old Fort Strong Endurance Festival Dec. 7-8: Organized by the G5 Trail Collective, a trail run (sold out) and mountain bike ride — with six- ($75), 12- ($85), and 24-hour ($100) options — will be held on the trails that encompass Camp Grier in Old Fort. A virtual option ($35) is also available. With a goal of raising a minimum of $2 million in donations to rebuild homes and support local businesses in Old Fort. More than 50 homes in Old Fort were either damaged or completely destroyed. Riders and runners will agree to raise funds by seeking donations from their networks. runsignup.com/Race/NC/OldFort/OldFortStrongEnduranceFestival
- Blue Ridge Adventures: The Western North Carolina mountain bike and gravel event organizer will use its final two races of the season — the Couch Potato (Nov. 9) and Swank 65 (Nov. 10) mountain bike events — as a fundraiser for Pisgah Area SORBA and the G5 Trail Collective for trail rebuilding efforts. The Couch Potato and Swank 65 have been moved from the Pisgah National Forest to Harbison State Forest in Columbia, South Carolina. A raffle for an Industry Nine Classic Enduro S wheelset also can be accessed through both event’s registration pages: bikereg.com/couchpotato and bikereg.com/swank65. The raffle is also open to those not participating in either race.
- 828 Endurance Community: Nutrition marketplace company Fuel Goods and apparel manufacturer Pressio created this relief effort for Western North Carolina outdoor and endurance businesses. The Asheville-based brands' goal is to sell 1,000 custom-designed Together We Rise shirts with 100% of proceeds going to businesses in need. fuelgoods.com
- Blue Ridge Strong: Along with Torq USA, Pedal Industries will donate proceeds from a custom designed “Blue Ridge Strong” cycling jerseys to the South Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference teams and students impacted by the remnants of Helene. pedalindustries.com/collections/nc-disaster-relief
- Help Open Old Fort Trails GoFundMe: Consider donating to the town’s professional trail maintenance, tree clearing, and trail reopening services. gofundme.com/f/help-open-old-fort-trails-a-lifeline-of-our-town-economy
- Help Stephen Reopen The Bicycle Thrift Shop GoFundMe: Owner Stephen Janes’ nonprofit shop to provide access to cycling to people who would not otherwise have access was destroyed in Asheville. gofundme.com/f/help-stephen-reopen-the-bicycle-thrift-shop
- Fox Factory: Its facility in North Carolina set up an employee-assistance fund to help employees affected by the hurricane; the public can also make tax-deductible donations to the fund, which the company is matching. eafrelieffund.com/m/FoxFactory
- On Your Bike GoFundMe: Friends have launched a campaign to help the owner of a Marshall, North Carolina, shop, which was heavily damaged. gofundme.com/f/k7kq5-help-rebuild-after-hurricane-helene
- Sycamore Cycles: The Western North Carolina retailer with two locations is selling T-shirts and hats to support relief efforts. sycamorecycles.com/collections/helene-relief
- GoFundMe general campaign: Started by the platform, it is making grants to support hurricane relief. gofundme.com/f/enxh8-hurricane-relief-fund
- Ride & Paddle, a retailer in Siesta Key, Florida, has launched a campaign to help its employees relocate and rebuild following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. gofundme.com/f/support-ride-paddles-evacuation-efforts
- Help Kim and Steve Rebuild after Hurricane Helene: BREW Bikes framebuilder Steve Garn and wife Kim suffered substantial damage to their home and business near Boone. gofundme.com/f/help-kim-and-steve-rebuild-after-hurricane-helene
If you are aware of other industry support efforts please leave a comment below or email sfrothingham@outsideinc.com.
