Two Years After Helene

Two years.

It somehow feels like a lifetime ago and yesterday all at once.

When Hurricane Helene came through Western North Carolina, the landscape we knew changed almost overnight. Roads disappeared beneath the rushing water. Homes and businesses were damaged or lost. Familiar places became almost unrecognizable.

But in the middle of that devastation, something else became impossible to miss:

Our commUNITY.

When so much was uncertain, people showed up.

Neighbors checked on neighbors. Strangers became friends. Local businesses supported one another. People brought food, water, supplies, tools, time, transportation and whatever else they had to give.

No one waited to be asked.

They simply helped.

What Carried Us Through

For Franny’s Farmacy, Helene became part of our story in a way we never could have anticipated.

There were difficult days. There were questions without immediate answers. There was rebuilding to do, both physically and emotionally.

But there was also an overwhelming reminder of why being rooted in Western North Carolina has always meant so much to us.

Community carried us.

Every person who checked in, placed an order, walked through our doors, shared a post, supported a local business or simply asked, “How can I help?” became part of our recovery.

That support helped us move forward.

It helped us reopen our Merrimon Avenue flagship.

It helped us continue growing our roots in Asheville with our Haywood Road location.

And most importantly, it reminded us that rebuilding has never simply been about buildings.

It is about people.

Still Healing. Still Here. Still Together.

Two years later, there are places throughout Western North Carolina where the signs of Helene remain.

Recovery doesn’t happen on a timeline.

Some things can be rebuilt quickly. Others take years. And some things will always carry the imprint of what happened.

That is why this anniversary is not simply about looking back at the destruction.

It is about honoring how far this community has come—and recognizing the work that continues.

We have watched Western North Carolina rebuild with creativity, determination, generosity and a fierce commitment to one another.

We have watched small businesses reopen their doors.

We have watched communities reclaim gathering spaces.

We have watched neighbors continue showing up long after the national headlines moved on.

That is the Western North Carolina we know.

The Heart of commUNITY

There is a reason we wanted the word UNITY to stand out in our remembrance this year.

Because that is what we remember most.

Not only the water.

Not only the damage.

Not only everything that was lost.

We remember the people who came together afterward.

Helene showed us how quickly life can change. But it also showed us what can happen when a community refuses to let its people face hardship alone.

And two years later, that spirit is still here.

At Franny’s, we are incredibly grateful to continue being part of this community—to grow here, work here, advocate here and welcome people through our doors here.

To everyone who stood beside us, supported Western North Carolina and continues to choose local:

Thank you.

Thank you for helping rebuild businesses.

Thank you for supporting your neighbors.

Thank you for believing in this place.