Dawson Buchanan Provides Zenith Amounts of Aid in Multiple Ways During Hurricane Helene Recovery
STORY BY TIM GARDNER
Dawson Buchanan is a classic example of good being done by good people for Avery County, the rest of the North Carolina High Country, and those from other places who need it.
Since Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina, there has been an outpouring of people looking for ways to support those hit hardest by it. Dawson, co-owner of the South Valley Garden Center in the Altamont Community of Avery County (6900 Linville Falls Highway), is among those who have helped in massive manners individually and by turning their businesses into recovery centers to give away needed supplies, provide free meals, and even offer any emotional peer counseling desired.
Dawson is an Avery County native. He was raised in the Pyatte Community and is a 2018 graduate of Avery County High School. He attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Government & Politics. He finished his senior year of college while living and working in Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia). He worked in various political and government posts there. He was raised in the horticulture industry and moved back home to Avery County and opened the garden supply center in 2023 with his family, which includes his parents, Ronald and Andrea, along with his brothers, Tyler, Eli, and Silas.
Our operation has entailed the coordination, receiving, and distribution of donations. In the first week, I sent runners from Roan Mountain, Tennessee to Cashiers, North Carolina. Our business almost immediately became a center resource for Western North Carolina and helped stock other distribution centers before more resources came in seven to ten days after the hurricane.
- DAWSON BUCHANAN
Dawson detailed his hurricane recovery effort help: “Our operation has entailed the coordination, receiving, and distribution of donations. In the first week, I sent runners from Roan Mountain, Tennessee to Cashiers, North Carolina. Our business almost immediately became a center resource for Western North Carolina and helped stock other distribution centers before more resources came in seven to 10 days after the hurricane.
“Items that were donated and distributed included food, water, clothing, baby supplies, feminine products, hygiene products, coats, heaters, propane, and camping gear such as tents, sleeping bags, charcoal, grills, and related equipment. Within a day after the hurricane, I began asking outside networks to collect items needed within two to four weeks after the hurricane such as home kits, lumber, tools, and chainsaws. In a natural disaster, it’s so important to think about what’s needed that day and what will be needed in weeks or when that next wave of donations will be coming in.
This operation at the garden center was conducted out of one main warehouse for tractor-trailer donations and a second and third for overflow. We then had a fourth warehouse connected to the primary one that was for organization and sorting. Lastly, we had the front yard usually where the plants we sell were located, and a small corner room where the public could come and get what they needed.
Our country truly showed up for us. The donations we have received have come from all over the county, from as far away as Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Florida. However, the nurseries that I have bought from and am friends with their owners are the ones that got the ball rolling first. These include Gossett’s Nursery, Buds & Blooms, Greensboro Shrub, Piedmont Carolina, and Mountain Valley Perennials, which are located in Wilkesboro, High Point, and Greensboro, North Carolina areas. It is impossible to truly know how many people were involved in all the donations we received, which amounted to approximately 35-40 tractor-trailers worth. However, it must have been in the thousands. Also, delicious meals were prepared and served at the garden center by various individuals, groups, and businesses. All those who have gotten supplies and meals at my garden center are so appreciative of the tremendous generosity of those who provided them as I am.”
When asked why and how he decided to make South Valley Garden Center a Hurricane Helene Recovery Center for people to obtain free supplies and also meals, Dawson replied: “When the hurricane happened on Thursday, September 26, and into Friday, September 27, I knew it was worse than what I could see from the front porch of my home in Elk Park. I couldn’t get a cellphone signal, so I went out and began driving around on that Friday morning and realized the scope of devastation our county had just endured. I first went to see my immediate family members to make sure they had survived the hurricane, which fortunately they had. I knew so many needed help, and it was and still is my heart’s desire to be part of that help. I wanted to determine who I could get to come into Avery County to help me help those who needed it. So, I left that Friday night, and I had to travel out of the county below Morganton onto Interstate 40 before I finally got a cellphone signal. The first calls I made then were to my nursery suppliers who were also based in North Carolina. They began acting immediately to bring in relief supplies. I also went to South Carolina and while I was there, I made more calls to many business owners and operators in several states to ask them to help me help people in Avery County and others who needed it by providing supplies. By Sunday afternoon, September 29, despite the devastation in most places, I got back into Avery County, got one of our box trailers, and went to get the first full trailer of supplies that I gave away.”
“Anytime tragedy strikes, there’s no time to sit and think about what to do—you just need to act and trust that you’ll be fine and rest in the fact that you’re helping others. And so that’s what I did—help my neighbors in ways that I knew I could through massive logistics and operations.
Dawson continued: “Sometimes you’re put in places for a reason, and I think my garden center was created to provide posthurricane help. I was uniquely equipped and positioned to ask the right people at the right time for the materials that were needed, along with having the facilities, machines, trucks, and trailers to handle this task.
“I had the hurricane recovery center effort at the garden center started on September 27 and it remained open until I closed it on October 30. Although it is no longer an active donation distribution site, I’m still working on storing and distributing ‘home kits’ for families that sustained massive damage. Each home kit includes a refrigerator, dishwasher, oven/stove, washer and dryer, as well as kitchen appliances. Considering all supplies and these home kits, I estimate the worth of the items that have or will be given away from the garden center to be more than half a million dollars.”
Indeed, what may be most amazing about the recovery efforts is the massive logistical effort that has been required to keep them going. Coordinating distribution with a team of volunteers can be difficult, but it ran smoothly and in an organized manner at the South Valley Garden Center.
“I thank everyone who has helped make this recovery effort possible,” Dawson said. “There are too many to list. I had my core volunteer staff of 10-12 people, but during the first few days after the hurricane, I had up to 60-70 volunteers onsite. They made this operation flow, and I leaned on them. I’m especially grateful for my parents, my nursery suppliers, and my consistent volunteers who included: Shelby and Vanessa Barrier; Linda, Jessie, and Lindsey Wiseman; Bruce Daniels; Caleb Crawford; Amanda, Manard, Michael, and Mollie McKinney; and Ashley and Patty Poore. Without them, I couldn’t have done what I have to help those in need.”
Dawson shared what he considers his top rewards for helping in the Hurricane Helene recovery efforts: “The personal rewards will always be something I treasure. The first week of the hurricane was beyond surreal for so many people who felt lost and hopeless. However, getting to see them brighten up when they saw the
I knew so many needed help and it was and still is my heart’s desire to be part of that help. I wanted to determine who I could get to come into Avery County to help me help those who needed it. So, I left that Friday night, and I had to travel out of the county below Morganton onto Interstate 40 before I finally got a cellphone signal. The first calls I made then were to my nursery suppliers who were also based in North Carolina. They began acting immediately to bring in relief supplies.
- DAWSON BUCHANAN
donations at my garden center and were told ‘Everything is going to be okay, there’s more on the way’ was well worth it. Whether it was getting someone their first meal in days or just letting your neighbor cry on my shoulder, was tremendously satisfying. There were no politics, personal grievances, demographics shame, or anything else of the sort—just people helping people.”
Nevertheless, Dawson said that the loss of sales his business suffered by extending free groceries and other items to others for more than a month has had negative professional effects. He shared: “South Valley Garden Center has sold a large variety of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, yard décor, and other items inside the indoor retail area. The shrubs are sourced from all
Mountain people are strong. We’re resilient. And we will do anything for our neighbors because that’s what we’re supposed to do. To see such selflessness come from each member of our communities is incredible. There was no thinking, truly just ‘I see people who need help – let’s help them.’ I think there’s also something to be said about the independent spirit of Appalachian people. We will take care of ourselves and our fellow mountaineers – we always have.
- DAWSON BUCHANAN
over the country, including in North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Oregon, Michigan, and Alabama. Our top products have included specialty materials such as unique conifers and Japanese maples as well as the 8,000 to 10,000 perennials we raised there annually. But unfortunately, the garden center will not be able to recover from not having sales for such a long time and other damages from the hurricane. After much thought and discussion in our family, we have made the difficult decision to not reopen in the spring. We are so sad not to, but due to loss of income, being a newer business, and the struggles that most small businesses share in the economy, our decision was the best for our family.
Sometimes you’re put in place for a reason, and I think my garden center was created for this tragedy. Although the garden center will not be reopening, I was uniquely equipped and positioned to ask the right people at the right time for the material that was needed, along with having the facilities, machines, trucks, and trailers to handle this task as well as getting people to fix meals to give away too at the garden center.”
Dawson offered the following advice that is well worth taking heed to those who have lived through Hurricane Helene and are trying to recover from it as best they can: 1) Permit yourself to grieve, to rest, and to let people help you. You’ve just experienced some level of trauma—whether you lost everything you own or almost nothing, you have still experienced some sort of loss, your emotions are valid, and your need for help could actually be a blessing to someone wanting to assist. 2) In times of natural disaster, take action and ask for forgiveness later. Especially in circumstances where
there is no communication or way to receive direction, you need to act for yourself, your family, and your neighbors. Don’t wait for the green light from the government when there are people’s lives on the line. 3) Don’t be shortsighted and think long-term. It’s easy to only see the needs and devastation in the immediate present, but you have to think about what life is like in two weeks, two months, or two years. Don’t let the chaos restrain your foresight.”
Those who have suffered from the hurricane’s devastation have likely been mulling over what will be the priority on their agendas when we reach our “new normal.” Perhaps Dawson’s advice will reverberate in our hearts following this national emergency.
America has been great since its founding because of the wonderful people who inhabit this land: working folks who love their families, care for their neighbors, protect us, and pray for us. Generally, Avery Countians and others in the High Country have always been generous. And because of the faith, hope, and charity they assert, there is much reason to expect that the effects of Hurricane Helene on them shall pass.
Dawson added: “Mountain people are strong. We’re resilient. And we will do anything for our neighbors because that’s what we’re supposed to do. To see such selflessness come from each member of our communities is incredible. There was no thinking, truly just ‘I see people who need help—let’s help them.’ I think there’s also something to be said about the independent spirit of Appalachian people. We will take care of ourselves and our fellow mountaineers—we always have.” t
