MOUNTAIN STRONG

Dear Readers,

We typically reserve this page to showcase the latest Western North Carolina housing market statistics. While we love our numbers, this holiday issue is dedicated to something far greater. This season, we celebrate the remarkable strength and resilience of our mountain communities.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, people in our communities rolled up their sleeves to help one another. Countless acts of kindness flooded our news feeds. There was rail side relief at the Depot. In our Out & About section, we share stories of our team members volunteering with the Cajun Navy 2016, the American Red Cross, and loading up U-Hauls to deliver supplies and grill burgers for communities hit hardest by flood waters. We love this video from Nate the Farmer at Darnell Farms, in which he demonstrates just how much people in this region care. And we continue to stand in solidarity with Asheville, taking in the scene of the Candlelight Vigil recently held at Pack Square Park.

Are you looking for ways to get involved or are you planning a holiday visit? Check out the resources below:

• Travel Advisory Western North Carolina

• Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide

• DriveNC

• BeLoved-Asheville

• Romantic Asheville – Travel Guide & Relief Funds

• Romantic Asheville – Travel Guide & Relief Funds

• North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund

If you truly want to understand who we are, dive into the stories of unwavering spirit and enduring commitment to community coming out of this region. This is why Western North Carolina is Mountain Strong—and why it will always be a remarkable place to call home.