Barbeque Pork and Cornbread: Meet the Carolinians and Tennesseeans Stepping Up in Long-Term Hurricane Recovery
WCK was among the first to arrive in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Now, we remain one of the last aid organizations serving meals in the Asheville area. Our teams work to support local communities by providing meals and other necessities to families in hard-to-reach areas. Working with local leaders, our teams are planting the seeds for North Carolina communities to rebuild.
At Generation Church, our partners have been serving meals to their neighbors. Hear from our team and community members:
The town surrounding Lake Lure was popularized by Dirty Dancing. Most years, it draws vacationers to the lake and mountains. But for six months, the main access road to Asheville has stayed blocked, and workers in the tourism industry there have lost their income as a result. Community members at Sunny View Clubhouse have stepped up to provide comforting meals and stability. In addition to WCK-supported meals, we also work together on a weekly free grocery event at the clubhouse. Sunny View has long provided meals to its neighbors in need. By supplying more meals and ingredients, we have helped them aid the region that they have cared for since 1936.
We also partner with Blunt Pretzels, a beloved local pretzel bakery. Owner Eddie and his team shared their experience providing thousands of meals here:
Grace Co-Op, another WCK partner in the Lake Lure area, has a shorter history. The Co-Op was founded in response to the hurricane. Local community members are working with WCK on last-mile meal deliveries to hard-to-reach areas, elders, and people with disabilities. With the ongoing economic impacts in mind, the Grace team is also developing a cooking class that focuses on low-cost ingredients.
In Bumpas Cove, TN, we are working with Appalachian Strong. The community organization provides meals, home reconstruction services, and more to its neighbors. WCK teams have served hot meals in these areas, since we know that a warm meal is one of the best ways to bond and find comfort. These dishes include local favorites like chicken pot pie, chili and cornbread, and barbeque pulled pork (with mac and cheese, collard greens, and all the classic fixins, of course!)
By empowering local leaders, our teams in North Carolina and Tennessee have served over 1.6 million meals since Hurricane Helene hit in October 2024. Disasters don’t fit into a neat box. Recovery in North Carolina and Tennessee is far from over, but these communities showcase a truth we’ve learned at WCK. Our strength is in local communities – they’re the ones who are cooking, serving, and caring for themselves. Day in and day out, we are proud to be working with these local organizations and more to serve families and support them on the road to recovery.
Help support families impacted by Hurricane Helene.
