BY EMILY JOY MENESES
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Featured photo courtesy of Brew & Brew Coffee

On September 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region. The Category 4 storm caused massive destruction to the Southeastern states, including Georgia, Florida, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Virginia. With winds exceeding 130 miles per hour, the storm has proven to be the fourth deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland United States, and the deadliest since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

More than 200 people have died, with more than half of the deaths being in North Carolina. With hundreds still missing, tens of thousands without running water, and 1 million homes and businesses still without power, a number of volunteers are working to search for those missing as well as provide support to those affected by the storm. We’ve compiled a list of folks helping out in the coffee community and how you can support their efforts.

Black & White Coffee Roasters

With locations in Wake Forest and Raleigh, N.C., Black & White Coffee Roasters is collecting supplies for their neighbors in western North Carolina. They will be gathering essential goods for those affected at their Wake Forest location and are calling for donations of water bottles, canned foods/non-perishable food items, baby formula, feminine products and other hygiene products, diapers, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, and more.

“Many of our staff have deep-rooted connections to WNC and are eager to help this region amid this disaster,” shares B&W director of education, Trevor Clark. “Personally, I called Asheville home from 2010–2022 and spent the first several years of my specialty-coffee career in this city. It’s difficult to see so many loved ones impacted, and this feels like a small, first step to helping that community rebuild.”

Little Waves

Durham, N.C.-based café and roastery Little Waves is raising funds for those affected by the crisis. All funds made from their Edwin Enrique Noreña Juice Box Set and Master Pourover Brewing and Tasting Class October 2-6 will go toward relief efforts. The café is also collecting essential goods to deliver to Operation Airdrop.

Brew & Brew

The team at Austin, Texas’ Brew & Brew is raising funds for former crew members currently living in Asheville, N.C., who were affected by the hurricane. They’re currently calling for anyone to donate what they can to support those affected as they begin to rebuild their lives.

“Our Brew & Brew family in Asheville needs your help. Their homes, jobs, and city have been devastated by Hurricane Helene, and they need a hand in temporarily relocating to safety, repairing and rebuilding, replacing their lost and destroyed items, and generally patching their lives back together,” the café shares on their Go Fund Me page. “Brew & Brew wouldn’t exist without these kind, talented folks (Mumford, Kaneubbe, Jeff, & Katie), so it’s the least that we can do to support them through this incomprehensible disaster.”

Counter Culture Coffee

Counter Culture Coffee is currently providing support in a number of ways—first, by redirecting their Bloom sustainability fund to assist coffee partners in Asheville. In addition, they will be doubling Bloom contributions through November. These funds will go to supporting hourly baristas, providing initial coffee orders, assisting with equipment needs, and general rebuilding efforts.

Counter Culture is also using their weekly Tasting at Ten event to encourage donations to BeLoved Asheville, and a QR code will be available at each coming tasting for easy contribution. The specialty-coffee roaster will also be accepting applications from wholesale partners in the affected areas for the next four months.

“What happened in western North Carolina, Tennessee, and other parts of the Southeast is unimaginably devastating,” shares Jenna Gotthelf, Counter Culture’s wholesale education manager. “We are grateful to be in a position where we can use our platform to help.”

Calling for More Resources

This is a developing story, and we would love to hear of other ways to support those affected by Hurricane Helene, especially for folks in Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia. For those providing support or in need of support, please send us a direct message on Instagram @baristamagazine so that we can amplify any and all relief efforts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emily Joy Meneses (she/they) is a writer and musician based in Los Angeles. Her hobbies include foraging, cortados, vintage synths, and connecting with her Filipino roots through music, art, food, and beverage.

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