Introducing the ‘Respond-Recover-Ride Together’ fund for Helene Relief
At Gravelo, we are thankfully all safe and sustained minimal property damage. But our hearts are broken for our Western North Carolina friends and neighbors. While brainstorming how to help, we thought of the communities that welcomed us to their businesses and gravel roads for our Summer Ride Series: Burnsville, Old Fort, Hot Springs, and Brevard.
Evan Weinstein, who designed the SRS t-shirts, generously reworked the design, leading to the idea of the “Respond-Recover-Ride Together Fund.”
Our plan for the Respond-Recover-Ride Together Fund is to have multiple fundraising phases in order to adjust to the changing needs of Western North Carolina following Helene. There will be 3 main focuses:
RESPOND: emergency relief
RECOVER: long term recovery
RIDE: supporting fellow bike shops as well as businesses that welcomed us on our Summer Ride Series, rebuilding trails, and bringing the cycling community together through rides and events
With this approach, we’re committed to long-term support, adapting as needs evolve, and providing updates on where your donations are going.
PHASE ONE: 10/11-10/14 or longer
Responding with emergency relief
75% proceeds will go to the non-profit Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC), with
25% supporting Gravelo’s employees (this will be ongoing unless it is not needed, then any extra would roll into the CFWNC donation).
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina is rapidly providing grants to ensure that frontline nonprofits have the resources they need for critical early response and continuing recovery. Their administrative fees are waived so that every dollar goes directly to assistance.
They are serving 18 counties in WNC (including those of our Summer Ride Series partners) and with their Emergency and Disaster Response Fund have given grants in the last few days to on-the-ground organizations such as the Asheville Poverty Initiative, Babies Need Bottoms, Centro Unido Latino Americano, and Co-operate WNC.
On Monday, Oct. 14, we will send your donations to CFWNC and also evaluate if it’s best to continue this plan for another round.
Thank you for supporting Western North Carolina during this uncertain and difficult time.
If you have an organization or initiative that you’d like to see us support, please email Sarah@gravelo-workshop.com.
The Respond-Recover-Ride fund is not a 501(c)(3).