White Horse Community Fund 

On September 27, Hurricane Helene devastated our communities of Black Mountain and the larger Swannanoa Valley. We have been both leveled and buoyed, sometimes in the same moment, by all that we have witnessed.

And...

White Horse Black Mountain is a nonprofit center for the arts in Black Mountain, NC. We create community through the power of live music and support other local nonprofit organizations.

We will not let this devastation impede our mission to support local nonprofits AND provide space for community healing through music.

We are leaning into the power of “And…”

 

In response to this devastating disaster, White Horse Black Mountain has partnered with four of our closest nonprofit partners. This campaign highlights some of our community’s most urgent recovery projects and serve the  FIRST HEALING WORK of protecting life, safety and security. 100% of donations made to this campaign will directly support the projects listed below.

Community Fund Project Overview

• FOOD SECURITY – $144,000 – Bounty & Soul is providing food to thousands of people in the Swannanoa Valley (one of the hardest hit areas and our neighbors). This fund will provide 300 meals a day to the people of Swannanoa for 30 days. 
  
  
• HOME REPAIR – $110,000 – Hammer & Heart – supplies to repair 15 home per month that do not have insurance to cover water damage and will be unlivable if the water and mold mitigation are not managed. 
  
  
• MENTAL HEALTH – $60,000 – Black Mountain Counseling Center– a small part of the funds will be used to repair physical infrastructure. The  majority of this fund will support staff who are providing free mental health services and support additional clinicians volunteers as they arrive to do their good work.
  
  
• FUEL FUND for WINTER – $92,000 – Swannanoa Valley Ministries – will support heating costs for hundreds of  households in the area who will struggle with the costs of heating fuel this season. Loss of income and regional economic recovery will disproportionately impact these households. 

The SECOND HEALING WORK, is the area we at White Horse know well. We provide the ever important space for people to commune, grieve, heal and be lifted by music. We continue to open our doors at no charge, so that everyone may access the healing power of live music and community.

After the above needs have been met, the White Horse needs to raise funds to ensure that we can keep our doors open over the next six months and continue to operate as a place of healing despite this loss in revenue. 

Community Fund Partner in Detail

The descriptions below offer a more detailed view of how project funds will be used by each organization.

• Bounty & Soul has long believed that everyone has the right and opportunity to eat well, be nourished, and thrive. During this unprecedented natural disaster, this organization is serving meals to thousands of people in the Swannanoa Valley each and every day. These funds will provide meals for 300 people for 30 days, until the organization can resume and increase their own fundraising efforts. As thousands remain without power or water, these meals are vital for the community’s ability to move forward and heal.

• Hammer & Heart provides urgent home repairs to neighbors of the Swannanoa Valley who are financially unable to maintain their homes in a safe or livable condition. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the number of homes needing assistance has skyrocketed. This organization has the capacity to provide home repair assistance to 15 homeowners per month, with priority given to those without flood insurance. This is an immediate need as many homes will soon be unlivable if water and wind damage are not mitigated within the coming days and weeks. 

•  Black Mountain Counseling Center is a nonprofit, professional mental health counseling service providing care out of offices in Black Mountain and Old Fort as well as online for clients in Buncombe and McDowell counties. While their Old Fort and Black Mountain offices endured significant damage, they have partnered with temporary spaces in order to continue and increase their services to those affected by this natural disaster. While a portion of these funds will be utilized to replace infrastructure, the bulk of the resources will support the increase in current clinician’s hours as well as provide support for additional clinicians. Both individual and group grief and loss programs are being offered, free of charge, to those without medical coverage.

• Swannanoa Valley Ministries is a team of committed staff, volunteers, churches, and community partners working together to provide essential support and compassionate service to the Swannanoa Valley. Whether it’s housing, food, clothing, or direct financial assistance for things like rent, heating, transportation, and utilities, their goal in every interaction is to affirm every individual’s inherent dignity and worth regardless of their social or economic background. Each year, SVCM hosts a fall fundraiser to support the winter “Fuel Fund.” Last year this fund supported 383 families and distributed over $158,000 in assistance. Given the lack of infrastructure, that event cannot happen as planned this year and yet, even more families will need assistance as the economic fallout of this disaster will more heavily impact these less resourced families. 

WHY GIVE TO THE WHITE HORSE COMMUNITY FUND?

• Comprehensive healing – By supporting the FIRST “AND” SECOND HEALING WORK in our community, your donation funds multiple types of healing.
  
  
• Trusted Leadership –White Horse has a long standing reputation in our community and can provide “boots on the ground” reporting on project progress. 
  
  
• Trusted Community Partners– We have a relationship with each of these nonprofit organizations and know them to be efficient with funds and mission-driven with their actions. 

Complex problems require complex answers. Thank you for thinking forward and standing with us as we respond to this devastation.

“At the White Horse we believe communities need a place to intentionally connect with music and art. We believe that these moments of connection can repair some of the tears in the fabric of our society. We believe that art lightens our load, gives solace to the weary, can help heal the wounded and honors the part of our lived experience that we can’t find adequate words to express.“