In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Southern Dharma has been working in our communities to provide critical goods, services, and support. Our work continues to evolve day by day and has ranged from providing clean drinking water, mental health support groups, chainsawing fallen trees, distributing blankets and propane heaters, as well as supplying basic food and hygiene products to communities in need through our mutual aid hub. Our robust team of hurricane relief staff and volunteers work in diligent and compassionate service towards sammā-kammanta or Wise Action. Meanwhile, it has been our greater sangha supporting our work through material and fiscal donations that have allowed us to make this marked impact on the community.

As of November 1, we have raised over $150,000 toward our collective Hurricane Helene response efforts. Thank you to all for showing up in whatever form you can in this time of western North Carolina's need. If you would like to contribute, you can donate here.

On this page, you will find links to our email newsletters since the storm, information about our current activities, and a schedule of upcoming events at our temporary space in Asheville, Southern Dharma Oasis.

If you have questions or suggestions regarding our recovery work, please feel free to email [email protected] and we will get back to you as quickly as we can.

Email Newsletters since Helene (click to expand)

Southern Dharma Oasis

In the days following the storm, Southern Dharma began offering direct food and water assistance to the community in collaboration with Urban Dharma, another local Buddhist organization. Beginning in early October, we relocated our continuing efforts to one wing of Oasis Church of Asheville at 150 Westwood Place. The new space, Southern Dharma Oasis, allowed us to significantly expand our Free Store and water distribution hub, as well as establish dedicated work space for recovery staff and volunteers.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Board of Southern Dharma made the decision to suspend operations at the site beginning Saturday, November 16th. If you have questions or need assistance, please email [email protected].

Free Store & Water Hub

Four water totes line the southern wall of Southern Dharma Oasis, where people can come 24/7 to replenish their jugs and tanks with potable water to bring back to their houses. The Oasis Free Store opened its doors from 3 - 6 pm every Tuesday - Saturday, allowing those in need to come get supplies like food, bedding, hygiene products, and more. The Free Store also acted as the focal point for Southern Dharma's distribution efforts; volunteers collected, packaged and drove items to families in need whenever the Free Store was open. The Free Store was stocked by volunteers who either purchased or collected what they could from larger distribution hubs in the region, while large orders of specialized products like propane heaters were purchased directly by Southern Dharma and brought in from outside the region by out of town volunteers.

Programming

Where our volunteer efforts engaged material and physical needs within the community, events at Southern Dharma Oasis intended to help with the emotional, psychological, and spiritual processing of the impacts of Hurricane Helene. We were honored to offer a range of sessions and healing opportunities for our community members while the space was active. Deep thanks to everyone who took part.

Upcoming Events at Southern Dharma Oasis

Integrated Dharma offers teaching and tools from a variety of Buddhist traditions, as well as psychological and embodiment practices, to supporta full span freedom– relief from suffering, personal flourishing, and the means to translate that into a heart-centered response to the joys and challenges of our world.

These gatherings will begin with sangha building over tea, continue with a part guided, part silent meditation, and conclude with a talk and discussion on Buddhist practice. Hosted by David McKay, with guest teaching from other local and traveling Southern Dharma teachers.

David McKay entered a Zen Buddhist monastery at the age of twenty-nine and spent the next eighteen years training there in silence. Over time he became a skilled facilitator and counselor, offering retreats and workshops at the monastery and across the country. David left the monastery in the fall of 2014 to further explore life and practice back in the world. He has since found his home in the Appalachian mountains, where he supports awareness practice in the form of meditation groups, workshops, classes, retreats, and one-on-one spiritual counseling.