Greetings Dear Friends!  It’s been nearly four weeks since Hurricane Helene landed with devastating impact on WNC, and I’m just now coming to a space to reflect and share on this unfathomable journey.  Our family are one of the fortunate ones, with no major structural damage to our sanctuary and relatively rapid access to utilities. We were able to house my parents for a bit over a week and we’ve been supporting dear friends with hot showers, meals, dishes and laundry throughout.  Our fortune was not the case for so many in our beloved community, who suffered a 1000 year storm devastating our River Arts District, the towns of Marshall, Burnsville, Swannanoa, Chimney Rock, Old Fort, Barnardsville, and so many other beautiful neighborhoods we know and love. Countless trees down, entire sections of the city under water and mud, businesses and schools indefinitely down, and community displaced everywhere.  But our mountain family is strong and true, deeply devoted to rising #AshevilleStronger than ever before. 

People are coming together with heroic hearts and hands offering all they can to support neighbors, strangers and friends.   Simple acts of kindness mean so much at this time.. yet so so many are going way beyond that with countless volunteers with chainsaws, PE equipment mucking out buildings, and rescue & support groups heading deep into neighborhoods to recover and rebuild.  This is a time for the truest resilience of the soul to lift us up and guide us toward a deeper way of being.  Its times like this we truly learn the spirit of community, the power of friendship and the strength of the human spirit.  I’ve never experienced such utter loss alongside such profound hope and heroism.  I am grieving, I am inspired, I am in pain and I am ignited with hope.  But one thing is for certain, I am beyond honored and grateful to be right here in the heart of this beautiful mountain country with this amazing community. 

Our dear friends Annie, Jack and Dillon recently lost their beautiful Art Garden AVL studio in the River Arts District flood.  Countless hours of love, passion and care poured into that space was taken in one evening.  They are true stewards of our art community always welcoming every soul and organization in to their beautiful space with love and care.  Every year The Cruz family hosts a Halloween party for friends and family to celebrate one of our favorite holidays.  Yet this year, we want to honor and lift up the Art Garden with a fundraiser to support the recovery and rebuilding of their beautiful studio and livelihood. 100% of all ticket moneys will go toward the Art Garden. Please join us on Saturday November 2nd for an evening of healing, connection, love and spooky revelry. DJ Spirit Animal will be dropping a creepy dance set, Children are free and Costumes encouraged!  Music, art and community is medicine – and we can all use a night together more than ever right now.  Come and join in on a very special evening for the Art Garden at the Communitas Sanctuary!