South Asheville, North Carolina, on Sept. 28, 2024. Photo credit: North Carolina Department of Transportation.
[Update, 10/10/24: This story has been updated numerous times since its original publication to include more fundraising and relief efforts. If you have something to add to the list below, contact DCN here.]
Scores of coffee businesses throughout the Southeastern United States are reeling following flooding and human tragedies associated with the storm Helene.
DCN is not aware of any wide-scale disaster relief efforts being led by the U.S. coffee industry trade organizations. However, individual companies and localized efforts are afoot from Florida to Ohio.
Minneapolis-based Mill City Coffee Roasters this week activated an in-house disaster recovery program. The roasting equipment company is waving its technical support fees for professional coffee roasters seeking to get back up and running, with help for all models or brands of coffee roasters. The company is also helping to fulfill “emergency roasting” roasters from its headquarters.
The wreckage and subsequent business interruption caused by Helene has naturally resulted in loss of work for baristas, roastery production workers and others who make coffee come to life for consumers each day.
Companies like North Carolina-based Summit Coffee, who’s RAD Asheville location was gutted by flooding, are encouraging direct purchases of roasted coffees to support affected employees.
As rebuilding in Asheville and other coffee communities commences, here are some recent GoFundMe campaigns and other efforts supporting small coffee businesses, their owners and/or their staff.
DCN will add to this list in the coming days. If you are a coffee business in need due to Helene and would like to direct our readers to a fundraising campaign or some other support page, contact us here.
Resource from Getchusomegear
The grassroots barista support organization Getchusomegear is keeping a list of fundraising campaigns here. Follow Getchusomegear on Instagram for more updates.
Underground Mountain Clean Water Sponsorships
North Carolina’s Underground Mountain is dropping costs and seeking sponsors to get systems in place for clean water for cafes. Support the effort here.
Re-Automator Coffee Tech Seeks Roasters to Support Water Setups
North Carolina’s own Re-Automator Coffee Tech is organizing mobile water setups for coffee businesses seeking clean water so they can reopen. See this IG post for more.
Virginia Beach-Based Pinup Coffee Offers Roastery Access
“We would like to offer free small batch toll roasting for coffee roasteries in North Carolina who may have lost their roaster machine in the hurricane damage,” the company told DCN. “We have one 12-kilo roaster and can fit in as much as we can roasting-wise to help coffee roasteries keep their stock of roasted coffee. They would need to supply their own green coffee and packaging materials or purchase ours. We will do whatever we can!” Roasters in need can contact the company here.
Barista Coalition to Host Fundraising Event
The Barista Coalition, whose founder LaChrista McArthur has roots in the North Carolina coffee community and now lives in Seattle, is reaching out to coffee brands for a fundraising raffle.
Florida Zen Coffee Roasters Offers Small-Batch Relief
John Relyea, the owner of Zen Coffee Roasters in Lanark Village, Florida, has offered the use of the company’s 2-kilo roaster for small businesses seeking to keep up small-batch production in North Florida. Call or text the number on this Facebook page for info.
Deep Time Seeks Support for Affected Trainees
Asheville, North Carolina-based Deep Time, a specialty coffee company that trains people returning from incarceration, is seeking donations to support the fundamental needs of trainee workers who have been displaced by storms.
GoFundMe: Help rebuild DT’s Blue Ridge Java and it’s community!
Location: Spruce Pine, North Carolina
Excerpt: Among the countless places destroyed, DT’s Blue Ridge Java, our beloved coffee shop that has been at the heart of this community for over 20 years was ravaged by 10 feet of rushing floodwater… read more
GoFundMe: Support Cooperative Coffee baristas post-Helene!
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Excerpt: Hello friends! We recently opened our first coffeeshop at 210 Haywood Road in West Asheville after almost 5 years as a roasting company. Due to the devastation of Hurricane Helene, our city of Asheville has lost water indefinitely until infrastructure can be rebuilt. The timeline is very uncertain for when water will return, but we are hearing that it will be weeks… read more
GoFundMe: Rebuild DayTrip: Support Brandon and Davie
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Excerpt: Part of what makes this community so vibrant and wonderful are the small businesses that provide us with unique and fun places to come together. And if you know Brandon and Davie, you know how much of their heart and soul went into creating their bar and coffee shop, DayTrip which just opened a little over a month ago… read more
GoFundMe: Help Rebuild Newport’s Snowbird Coffee and The Creamery
Location: Newport, Tennessee
Please Help Pollen Staff
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Excerpt: As the days have unfolded we are learning more and more about the extensive damage our staff and pollen family has endured. Some are completely displaced, cars and homes totaled and some have already been rejected from FEMA relief. Our goal is to provide relief to people DIRECTLY through your donations and support. This is not going to a large organization but to actual people who need immediate assistance… read more
GoFundMe: Help Restore Our Beloved Community Coffee Shop (Indian Shores Coffee)
Location: Indian Shores, Florida
Excerpt: Damage is currently estimated at between $75,000 and $150,000 with a recovery timeline of three to six months. Closing during peak season adds an incalculable burden of revenue loss to the already devastating damages. In order to keep serving St. Pete/Clearwater’s best coffee Indian Shores Coffee Company needs your help… read more
GoFundMe: Help Restore Our Beloved Grove Surf and Coffee
Location: St. Pete Beach, Florida
Excerpt: Peter and Lindsey have poured their hearts into building a space that both the local community and tourists can enjoy and feel welcome. You may go to Grove for their fun drinks and great merch, but you return and stay for the friendliness and warmth of the staff, and the smiles behind the counter… read more
GoFundMe: Save The Prickly Palm! (Hurricane Helene)
Cedar Key, Florida
Excerpt: The Prickly Palm is incredibly blessed to still be standing after being hit by major Hurricane Helene. However, we have sustained SERIOUS damage to the shop. At this time, we are not sure exactly what Prickly Palm’s future looks like, but we do know that there is a future in Cedar Key!… read more
GoFundMe: Restore Louie Beans Coffee Truck After Hurricane
Location: Ruskin, Florida
Excerpt: On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene devastated our community, and sadly, it hit Louie Beans Coffee Truck hard, leaving it completely inoperable. Jennifer and Manny have always put the community first, and despite this setback, they were hesitant to ask for help, knowing others are also struggling… read more
GoFundMe: Help Wayne’s Neat Coffee Bar Rebuild post Hurricane Helene
Location: New Port Richey, Florida
Excerpt: My brother Wayne, a small local business owner had his coffee shop flooded during Hurricane Helene in Florida. The river nearby his store rose and quickly flooded his business. Now he’s left with damage and his livelihood hanging in the midst of the destruction. Please help us raise funds to help him and his family recover from this unforseen tragedy… read more
Help Dripolator Employees Recover from Helene
Location: Asheville, NC
Excerpt: We employ a dedicated and staff of 35 people who will be without income until which time we can acquire any insurance funds or FEMA grants them some aid, and we are humbly asking you to help us provide relief directly to these awesome folks who depend on Dripolator paychecks. Just for context, we are Living Wage Certified and our payroll is upwards of $60,000 per month… read more
If you would like to share additional information or fundraising efforts, contact DCN here.
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