Asheville – If you’ve been following the news about Black Mountain and Swannanoa, you’ve likely seen discussions about Silverados and their contributions to the local community. Silverados was an outdoor music venue that brought legendary artists to the Swannanoa Valley, a festival-style venue where everyone had a great view of the massive outdoor stage.
Valley Strong Disaster Relief Is Born
Silverados no longer hosts music events. It now serves as a hub for local, national, and, in some cases, international heroes who have come together as Valley Strong Disaster Relief (VSDR), a 501(c)(3) organization providing food, supplies, and other assistance to those in need—in a significant way.
It all started with a need. Imagine going through life one day and suddenly finding yourself hit by the worst floodwaters in WNC history. Suddenly, you have no home, no ID, nothing but the clothes on your back, and you’re not alone. Where do you turn?
Jenalee Tipton, a data manager at Community High School, felt compelled to help after the devastation caused by Helene. Her fiancé, Ion Monley, was able to bring in some supplies, but they were gone in an hour. Tipton obtained permission to use Silverados as a hub for supplies and hot food, contacted Trinity Pharms owners Jason Ward and Amy Ward for assistance with social media, and it just took off.
Ward’s Videos Blew Up the Internet
Ward’s heartfelt and sincere videos on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook went viral, bringing much-needed volunteers and support from everywhere. “We decided to start taking a little bit of donations and trying to help out the community,” said Jason Ward. “And then, because of y’all [media] and because of the people, it’s turned into a massive operation.”
Watching all of this unfold on social media, it seemed that as soon as a request for needed items was posted, entire truckloads would arrive within a day or two. Ward said, “I have to be careful now on my personal page because you guys have made it so big that if we ask for toothpaste or something like that, 700 or 800 people show up with toothpaste, and we’re so grateful for that.”
Help With Rent and Mortgages
In addition to food and supplies, as VSDR receives funding, they will also work to assist with mortgages, which are still due even if the home is gone. “A lot of the insurance isn’t covering this because many of these people weren’t in a floodplain,” explained Ward. “So you’re sitting on a pile of rubble while the rent and mortgages are still coming in. That’s true for businesses and homeowners alike. We want to help with mortgages, with rebuilding—whatever the need is.”
Everyone Helping Everyone
Evie Severn heard on the news that power and water were restored and that WNC was back to normal. However, when she saw a post detailing how bad things still were, she felt compelled to come down from Maryland to volunteer. Severn first worked with Cabins for Christ but then learned about Silverados and immediately volunteered there. Severn said, “There are people from all over the country and all ages working together—all sharing this experience together. It’s extremely heartwarming. I love it. I’m all by myself this year, yet it was truly the best holiday I’ve ever had.”
Donations Gratefully Accepted
While many relief groups are leaving the area, VSDR is homegrown and isn’t going anywhere. VSDR operates solely on contributions. Ward concluded by saying, “We just appreciate you all so much. This hub is made by the people and for the people, and we want to continue to help our community as best we possibly can. We couldn’t do it without you. So, thank you.”
To donate to VSDR, visit www.valleystrongdisasterrelief.org or their Facebook page. See Ward and Severn’s videos at https://www.facebook.com/thetribunepapers.