#help appalachia

[dweebsfilingcabinet]

Hey Y'all. As yall probably know, I'm from Appalachia. Western North Carolina. Unless you live off the grid, you're probably aware that Appalachia just got annihilated by hurricane Helene. Everyone here needs help, for cleanup, food, water, etc. Why? "The government hates Appalachia", we all say in unison. I don't usually post stuff like this, no, but it's really really important to me to get this out here.

I work at a little shop in downtown Marshall, which was recently submerged under 27 feet of water--to my knowledge thats 5 feet higher than the flood of 1916. The name of that shop is Of Wand and Earth; it's a little metaphysical shop and tea house. We sell all kinds of stuff--crystals, incense, tea, tarot, we do readings, we have a healing temple, and it's a community hangout spot for anyone. You name it. A big portion of proceeds we make from our sage goes straight to funding indigenous peoples foundations. This store does so much good for the community that if I listed it all, this post would go on and on and on.

My shop owner is an absolute blessing--I've known her since this shop got its beginnings, and I was able to finally, formally work here for two weeks before Helene hit.

I know everyone in downtown Marshall, much like a huge portion of Appalachia, needs help right now. I also know that finding reliable sources to donate to rn is kind of hard--but this one is legit. One of my boss' twin daughters made this gofundme.

The donations will go to helping clean and rebuild Artisun, located in Hot Springs, and Of Wand and Earth, located in Marshall (my boss owns both, and both stores are very similar). Funds will also go to helping the employees (like myself) and vendors that sell from both businesses.

If you show me proof of donation, no matter the amount, I'll do a digital sketch of any human character you want--oc, fandom, you name it.

I am trying to spread this as far as I can, so even if you can't donate, please consider giving this post a reblog. This shop means the world to me, as does my town and all of Appalachia. If the news isn't gonna talk about it, I will. If you need/want any proof that I work here and that this store is legit, please DM me. Here's the link:

Here's some photos of OWAE, and what it currently looks like as well.

[toraicblogs]

This is a map of counties without power in the wake of hurricane Helene as of September 29th and it probably hasn't gotten much better by now. Victims are suffering catastrophic flooding, mudslides, fires, and infrastructure damage, and the federal and state governments aren't moving fast enough to help them.

I've compiled a small collection of lists of local groups and charities that are accepting donations online. It's not exhaustive and I can't gurantee all of them, but I'd honestly rather they get donations than FEMA, which is already doing more to stymie current relief efforts than contribute to them.

Tennessee

North Carolina

North Carolina

Florida

Georgia

Virginia

Many of these charities will be faith based and I know that leaves a sour taste in people's mouths here, so all I can say is use your own discretion on who you choose to support. This is about helping victims and that's it.

If you know of other local charities or organizations, please feel free to add them and share this around. It's going to be a long time before Appalachia can recover from this disaster but you can help speed it up just a little bit.

[blue-nebraska]

Hurricane Helene relief for WNC

For the last year and a half, I've been lucky to call Western North Carolina my home. The aftermath of Hurricane Helene here is unfathomable.

This is a compilation of sources from folks in my community: people who have lost their homes, who are bringing survival supplies into the area, and more. I will try to keep it as updated as possible (posting on Oct. 6th). Please support if you have the means, share with others, and keep WNC in your thoughts.

Rural Organizing And Resilience - a grassroots volunteer organization bringing supplies into affected communities

Support Yancey and Mitchell Counties Flood Relief

Celo

Support my friend doing work on the ground - Venmo @/melanie-risch

South Toe Fire Department - is doing rescues in the area. Venmo @/SouthToeFire

Arthur Morgan School - Send a tax-deductible donation to their giving page, resources will get to folks who need it in Celo

Fundraiser for community member to recover from house flood (added 10/23)

Community member whose house is full of mud - Venmo @/heather-downtofarm

Help Natalie and Miguel after Helene - updated 10/23, changed from Venmo link to GoFundMe

Support Meredith and Robert after Hurricane Helene - Meredith and her partner Robert escaped with their pets and their lives in Hurricane Helene, but lost everything else to the flood waters.

Support Nick, Kavita, and the Celo Inn - added 10/23

Spruce Pine

Downtown Spruce Pine - accepting donations via PayPal to which will go directly to local businesses that have suffered significant damage

Treats Studios Helene Relief - webpage for local artists to receive support. Artists are grouped by state, medium, and those in most need of help.

Marshall

The Farm Connection - raising money to directly pay farmers for the pounds of food that they are donating to local relief organizations.

Bakersville

Help Rebuild Bakersville after Hurricane Helene - Help the Bakersville Beautification Association non-profit start from the ground up in reconstructing downtown Bakersville.

Generators for Bakersville - raising money to buy generators for at least 30 families without power (added 10/9) (currently disabled)

Asheville

Pansy Collective and Beloved Asheville - distributing survival supplies to the Asheville community.

Rebuild Melissa's Pottery Studio After Helene - Hurricane Helene wiped out Melissa's Pottery Studio under 20 feet of water, destroying her kiln, and everything else. (currently disabled)

Support a community member in Asheville - Venmo @/Pamela-Demontbreun (added 10/23)

Linktree of resources for Helene mutual aid in WNC

Masterdoc of Helene recovery resources

[dweebpheles]

Wishing stockpilers a very Fuck You what is wrong with you

[jeyneofpoole]

before you say that hashtag witty hashtag clever thing about ‘dumb hicks’ or ‘rednecks’ or ‘hillbillies’ run through this quick and easy questionnaire to make sure you’re not a piece of shit!

do i know what states i’m even talking about? can i point to them on a map?

have i ever visited, or god forbid lived in, a state south of the mason-dixon line?

do i know where appalachia is? can i point to it on a map? do i know what states it encompasses?

do i know what the word ‘melungeon’ means? do i know what distinctive people-groups make up the appalachian south?

have i ever made fun of someone for having missing teeth (aka dewmouth), a silly accent, or unique regional grammar structure?

do i think of the south as a homogenous wall of bigots and republicans? have i considered that the south is diverse racially, economically, and politically?

how do i pronounce ‘appalachia?’ have i continued to say it the wrong way after being corrected because it sounds ‘smarter?’

when i say ‘i hate all country music,’ have i listened to anything other than bigwig sellouts singing about trucks and shit? can i name a single true bluegrass musical artist?

do i consider the south to be ‘beyond saving’ or a ‘lost cause?’

do i make ‘sweet home alabama’ jokes about incest in the south? have i poked fun at the ‘blue people of kentucky?’ do i even know their last names, or are they just punchlines to me?

do i say ‘y’all’ in everyday conversation? am i from the south? do i even know where to put the fucking apostrophe?

do i know what the fuck i’m talking about? should i shut the fuck up?

[classychassiss]

Responding to direct requests for aid from our contacts in the area, we are loading up a truck and heading north to support our fellow southerners this weekend. We need to make $2000 fast to cover the entire wishlist provided to us by folks in North Carolina. Can you help us? Cash-app and Venmo is @/TeamKombatikon. Donations can also be made through ko-fi.com/angelito

Thank you so much!

[moved-to-slayfk]

When President Joe Biden was asked if there’s any more resources that the federal government could be providing hurricane victims, he said:

“No. We’ve given them … a significant amount even though they didn’t — hadn’t — asked for it.”

This is fucking bullshit. People are homeless. People are dying. The government doesn’t care about Appalachia. It never has and never will unless we make enough noise. They gave Israel $8.7 billion while saying hurricane victims have enough money that we didn’t even ask for even though we’ve been BEGGING for help. They need to STOP funneling money into the Israeli death regime while their own countrymen fucking suffer and die under the boot of capitalism!!!!!! This country is fucked!!! They value Israel’s continued destruction of Palestine over their own people!!!!!!!!!!!! The lives of murders will always be more valuable to other murderers than innocent lives, no matter the country. Free Palestine, support Appalachia. Fuck the United States government.

[alliluyevas]

Appalachia is a distinct area and culture from the rest of the southern US. it is a LOT further left than most of its neighbors. IE: it's mostly mines and other hard laborer so the unions in Appalachia are VERY strong

people on this website will just go on here and say things.

[edjectedly]

We will also be going Friday!

I am going down to a disaster area today/tomorrow if anyone wants to donate to me, I'll post receipts for me buying supplies and shit. This would be to help Greene County in TN specifically. My mom works in a factory and right now most of those people don't have power or the means to get to the main part of town since only two bridges are open in the whole county

[angeleyeswide]

I think I'm gonna go insane if I don't get to play in a creek soon.

[mellon-collie-scorpio]

WEST VIRGINIA IS UNDER WATER!!

Appalachia is no stranger to tragedy after tragedy, and we already know that the government does not care about us. Please spread the word that West Virginia is DROWNING!!

Wheeling, Fairmont, Morgantown, etc. are all suffering right now. People are dying, power is out, the already scarce emergency services cannot get out in the roads.

Our hollers are already remote, imagine what it's like when half of the state is suffering a natural disaster. I know that WV looks like some backwards, redneck, hillbilly place to many people, but it is one of the most beautiful states with even more beautiful people.

These are just some of the photos I have gathered from Facebook and various friends and family. Please share and help West Virginia, we have been exploited enough!!!

GoFundMes:

https://gofund.me/8cd43527

(added some random tags to help spread the word)

[dweebsfilingcabinet]

Hey Y'all. Want a Shirt? Pants? A bag? Bandana?

So, as mentioned in several posts prior to this one, I live in Western North Carolina, which has been devastated by Hurricane Helene. If you check my previous posts, you'll see that my place of work was in downtown Marshall--which was under 27 feet of water--so as you can imagine, I am currently very unemployed til we're able to recover and re-open, which is likely gonna be a While.

On October 5th, my workplace had planned to host a 2 day event to celebrate spooky season and the newly welcomed autumn, in which there would be activities for the town youth, raffles, giveaways, and local artist's/vendors pop-up booths to come check out. I was supposed to be one of the vendors there, but of course this was all before the flood.

I've made an ample amount of wearable art I'd planned to sell at our event, all of which is still in my possession on account of recent events.

So I'm gonna give it a try and sell it here, see what happens. With every piece I sell, I'm gonna donate a chunk of what I bring in to the fundraiser linked above. If I sold them in-store, the shop would be taking some commission anyway--but right now, they could really, really use the extra help. Seeing as my job is currently on hold, I could use a little, too, so? You get functional, wearable piece of art, I get paid a little, and my workplace gets a chunk, too--just like they were supposed to. A win win win situation.

All of these items still need a wash--I just wanted to go ahead and get photos, then wash them after I tried them on. They will be air-dried to avoid shrinkage! So if you see any white-pencil sketch lines, thats why. Priced according to how long each one took.

I take payments through PayPal and Cashapp--so if you see one you're interested in, DM me! They're all one of a kind, and free-handed by me :) Buyer Pays Shipping, and I do ship outside the USA. If you can't purchase, consider reblogging!! <3

Beetlejuice Tee - US Size Men's M. 70$ USD.

Season Of The Witch - US Size Mens M. 40$ USD.

Teeth!! - US Size Men's L. 70$ USD.

Everything Shirt - US Size Men's L. 100$ USD. Designs wrap around the shirt.

Centipede Sweats - US Size Mens M. Drawstring Included. 85$ USD

Deaths Head Hawkmoth Zipper Bag - 25$ USD.

Mushroom Bandana - 20$ USD.

Astrology Bandana - 25$ USD.

DM for questions, to purchase, etc :)

[asterism-dot-zip]

Hey all, I live in Appalachia, specifically Western NC, and Helene devastated us. Towns I live near are completely destroyed and I-40 is falling apart. There’s no cell service in my town. Many counties don’t have power, clean water, or internet access. Appalachia wasn’t built for this type of weather and it shows.  I evacuated while I had time and I’m safe with my parents, but I want to do SOMETHING to help since I can’t be there for my community. If you can provide me with a receipt of a US $5 donation or higher to any of the charities listed on this website I’ll draw something for you. Any art will be for personal use only and the more you donate the more I’ll make for you, but as long as you’ve donated I’ll give you something. God knows we need all we can get, keep Appalachia in your hearts (and prayers if you’re the praying type). Art examples are under the readmore if you wanna look.

Art examples go from least to most complex:

[oppaisum]

We're hearing that lots of Western NC towns that have reopened post-Helene are DESPERATE for visitors, especially the mom & pop shops/restaurants that rely on tourism to pay their staff & bills.

Here's a list of the 15 NC Mountain Towns we've covered that are currently welcoming visitors & NEED your patronage!

Feel free to save & spread this to anyone who may be interested! We need your help!

BLOWING ROCK: https://blueridgemountainstravelguide.com/best-things-to-do-in-blowing-rock-nc/

BOONE: https://blueridgemountainstravelguide.com/best-things-to-do-in-boone-nc/

BREVARD: https://blueridgemountainstravelguide.com/best-things-to-do-in-brevard-nc-transylvania-county/

BRYSON CITY: https://blueridgemountainstravelguide.com/things-to-do-in-bryson-city-nc-swain-county/

CASHIERS: https://blueridgemountainstravelguide.com/best-things-to-do-in-cashiers-nc-jackson-county/

CHEROKEE: https://blueridgemountainstravelguide.com/best-things-to-do-in-cherokee-nc-qualla-boundary/

ELKIN: https://blueridgemountainstravelguide.com/best-things-to-do-in-elkin-nc/

FRANKLIN: https://blueridgemountainstravelguide.com/things-to-do-in-franklin-nc-macon-county/

HAYESVILLE: https://blueridgemountainstravelguide.com/things-to-do-in-hayesville-nc/

MAGGIE VALLEY: https://blueridgemountainstravelguide.com/best-things-to-do-in-maggie-valley-nc/

MOUNT AIRY: https://blueridgemountainstravelguide.com/things-to-do-in-mount-airy-nc-surry-county/

ROBBINSVILLE: https://blueridgemountainstravelguide.com/things-to-do-in-robbinsville-nc-graham-county/

SYLVA/DILLSBORO: https://blueridgemountainstravelguide.com/best-things-to-do-in-sylva-nc-dillsboro-nc/

WAYNESVILLE: https://blueridgemountainstravelguide.com/things-to-do-in-waynesville-nc-haywood-county/

WEST JEFFERSON: https://blueridgemountainstravelguide.com/best-things-to-do-in-west-jefferson-nc/

[magpie-trove]

T

[crazycatmilo]

Any recs for aroace characters?

I wish I could give you some tbh, I am still in search of good ace characters myself. Most medias I’ve come across with aroace characters haven’t been the best or most realistic representation imo (aka the “emotionless character” or a robot or an alien or a villain or whatever the fuck). I’ve heard Jar of Rebuke, Hello from the Hallowoods, and Old Gods of Appalachia have ace characters and I’m considering listening to those but I haven’t yet so idk if it’s good rep. I think I heard The Penumbra Podcast has one too? I’ve heard Bojack Horseman has a good ace rep character but I refuse to watch that show so 😭