Ten months ago, Hurricane Helene ripped through Western North Carolina—leaving behind catastrophic flooding, destroyed roads, and displaced families. In Fairview, treacherous landslides shuttered the town, cut power and water, and isolated residents for weeks. Fairview was among the hardest hit: 13 lives lost, 100+ homes destroyed, and a landscape forever altered.
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As roads reopened and federal aid rolled out, grassroots rescues moved in: National Guard, Salvation Army, VA healthcare teams hiking miles to deliver medicine and meals to seniors and veterans. Yet for many, hunger remained the silent, unspoken struggle.
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Enter Food Connection—a local nonprofit founded in December 2014 by Flori Pate, Mary Evans, Buzz Durham, Woody McKee, and Amy Cantrell. With a mission to rescue surplus, chef-prepared meals from places like UNC Asheville and hotels, they’ve since rescued over 700,000 meals and delivered them to those in need across Asheville and Buncombe County.
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When floodwaters receded, their trucks hit the roads again. This time, Fairview became their focus—parking in Food Lion’s lot for weekly pop-up distributions and delivering thousands of fresh, refrigerated meals to a community still struggling.
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👏 But here’s what really stands out:
When PR & marketing firms, local influencers, and some community leadership went silent; a great recovery work still needed to be done— and Food Connection stood firm. They didn’t bail. They dug in. They showed up.
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Through every step—coordinating with Food Lion, navigating destroyed roads, rallying volunteers—they continued an incredible work of compassion, dignity, and reliability.
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So, if you or someone you know still needs food: reach out to Food Connection. If you’re looking to take action: volunteer or donate here → https://food-connection.org/volunteer-1
