Together We Raised $5,376 for Victims of Hurricane Helene

It’s hard to believe that it’s been over 13 years since I first set foot on the Appalachian Trail. Seeing as this was my first backpacking trip, I hadn’t the first clue of what to expect on this journey. While I was surprised by the trail’s beauty, challenging terrain, and temperamental weather, what stood out to me most was the incredible people surrounding the AT.

Countless times, complete strangers offered us rides to and from town, hot food and cold beverages, and even invitations into their homes for a home-cooked meal and a place to stay. You’ll read stories like these a dozen times a day on this website, especially as people pass through the southern half of the trail (no shade to my mid-Atlantic/New England friends). The phrase “the trail restored my faith in humanity” is uttered so often that is sounds cliché, but it’s undeniably true. The magic of hiking the Appalachian Trail lies in the communities that surround it.

Seeing photos of Hot Springs, Damascus, and Erwin—places where I and countless other hikers have witnessed incredible acts of generosity—devastated, with their roads, buildings, and homes washed away in the wake of Hurricane Helene, is utterly heartbreaking. That’s why I and so many others in the hiking community feel compelled to help.

Earlier this week, we announced that from October 1st through 3rd, we would be donating 100% of proceeds from The Trek’s store to relief efforts across North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virignia. The response from this community has been nothing short of staggering.

Thanks to your generous purchases, we raised an incredible $5,376.53 in just three days. October has already become The Trek’s top sales month in the past 1.5 years (in just 72 hours)— all thanks to this incredible community of hikers.

This money has been donated in full to the following organizations:

• North Carolina Relief Fund
• Virginia Emergency Relief Fund
• East Tennessee Action Fund

Note: the Virginia Emergency Relief Fund requires the money to be sent by check, which is in the mail.

While we recognize that this money is just a starting point in the unimaginable effort needed to rebuild after Hurricane Helene, this is not the end of our involvement. We’re committed to continuing this momentum—whether that’s through more fundraisers, promoting volunteer opportunities, or using our platform to amplify organizations on the frontlines of relief work. You can subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter to ensure you don’t miss these future calls to action. We also strongly encourage you to keep up with the ATC, as they will continue to lead the recovery effort, as they always do.

If you know of any worthwhile organizations, groups, or resources, please share them with us and others by leaving a comment below.

The trail has given us so much, and now it’s our turn to give back.

featured image via wtvf.org