East Fork aims to use our power, resources, and platform to build co-conspiratorial relationships with grassroots justice movements to help achieve a more equitable world.
Our Community Partners are grassroots organizations or individuals working toward racial equity, community reconciliation and supporting the liberation of folks who’ve been systematically oppressed by white supremacy, patriarchy, and heteronormativity.
In 2024, we used belonging as our guiding principle when choosing organizations to form relationships with because we know how vital it is for everyone to feel safe and rooted in their identities.
Currently, due to the impact of Hurricane Helene on Western North Carolina we are splitting all donations between three grassroots organizations on the ground getting aid and supplies to our region's most impacted folks. You can read about them below ...
Nanostead
The Nanostead Foundation, newly incorporated as a charitable organization, has transformed its operations to become the central hub to support relief and reconstruction in Marshall, NC, and the surrounding Western North Carolina areas.
With roadways, homes, and businesses heavily impacted, Nanostead has rallied the community and welcomed volunteers from near and far to aid in clean up and rebuild efforts. Nanostead is committed to providing essential resources and support for long-term recovery.
Donation funds are directed toward maintaining the hub for materials and resources, and ensuring the ongoing dedication required for Marshall and neighboring towns to not only survive but thrive.
Follow them on Instagram for updates and current needs: @marshallreliefhub
Be Well
Be Well AVL began as a grassroots initiative driven by neighbors helping neighbors in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which severely impacted Buncombe County’s water infrastructure.
This volunteer-run organization provides essential clean well water and non-potable water for flushing toilets through strategically placed tanks across Buncombe County, particularly targeting high-density, low-income communities with elderly or disabled residents who face greater challenges in accessing clean water. Through these distribution sites, they address immediate sanitation and health concerns in communities that were underserved even before the hurricane.
Be Well AVL invites support through donations to fund supplies like water tanks, pumps, and transport equipment. The group also welcomes volunteers, especially drivers with trucks, to support their vital mission of ensuring access to water where it’s most needed.
Follow them on Instagram for updates and current needs: @bewellavl
Umoja
Umoja Health, Wellness and Justice Collective, a long-standing Black-led organization, has served Asheville and Buncombe County’s BIPOC communities for many years, focusing on equity in education, mental health, and economic justice.
With deep roots in the community, Umoja offers trauma-informed, culturally aligned programs that foster healing, youth leadership, and substance use recovery. In response to the immediate needs brought on by Hurricane Helene, Umoja has swiftly mobilized to provide direct relief through food, water, and essential supplies for families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.
Led by community-connected staff, Umoja’s recent relief efforts continue its commitment to creating safe spaces and access to critical resources for those impacted by systemic inequities.
Follow them on Instagram for updates and current needs: @umojahwj
We use selling Seconds as an opportunity to raise funds for our quarterly Community Partners. At checkout, you’ll be able to leave a voluntary donation that will go directly to Equal Plates.
This helps us habitualize wealth-spreading practices, and you can join us in creating healthier, equitable communities. We hope that by saving money through purchasing discounted Seconds, you’re inspired to spread some wealth to organizations with a good cause.
Seconds are pots with flaws that occur as an unavoidable part of ceramics manufacturing. We sell them at a discount because they're not a representation of our best work and quality, but they are still functional and food-safe. We’d rather see Seconds sprucing up your table than headed for the landfill.
Seconds are made available 3-4 times a year when we announce our Community Partners. We also host in-person Seconds Pop-ups across the country to raise awareness for our Community Partners.
We hope you choose to learn more about our Community Partners’ work, discover similar organizations where you live, and give or volunteer as you’re able. New partnerships are announced every season.
2024: Equal Plates Project
We were honored to partner with Equal Plates Project from July 2024 to October 2024, extending our usual period while they assisted local communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Sourcing directly from local farmers, Equal Plates cooks and shares meals to grow community resilience. By purchasing at least 50% of their ingredients from small, local farms, Equal Plates is able to keep important resources within the community and offer high-quality, scratch-made meals with dignity to our neighbors and community organizations.
With food insecurity on the rise in our region, organizations like Equal Plates play a vital role in mitigating the harmful, long-lasting impacts of hunger and poverty.
2024: Poder Emma
Due to the impact of Hurricane Helene, we broke tradition during October 2024 and partnered with three incredible organizations. Poder Emma, along with Colaborativa La Milpa, were gathering essential resources to deliver directly to families in need in the Emma community, especially those living in mobile home parks. In the early days after the storm had passed, Poder Emma was able to reach around 3,000 people a day.
Through collaboration with local organizations like Únete, Umoja, Operation Gateway, Tierra Fértil, and Tepeyac Mountain Sanctuary, they’re worked tirelessly to expand relief efforts and ensure that no one was left behind.
2024: BeLoved Asheville
Due to the impact of Hurricane Helene, we broke tradition during October 2024 and partnered with three incredible organizations. In addition to Equal Plates and Poder Emma, BeLoved Asheville jumped in immediately to provide essential aid to support those affected most by Hurricane Helene. They worked round the clock to provide basic necessities to those in the community that did not have access to things like food, water, diapers, formula, cooking supplies, hygiene products, and so much more.
From the beginning, Beloved has been boots-on-the-ground, caring for our city and will continue to do so to care for the most vulnerable.
2024: Raíces
We partnered with Raíces Emma-Erwin in April to June 2024 to support their vision of creating a united and integrated community where there is respect and security for children and their families.
Through summer camps, dance performances, and fun after school activities facilitated in Spanish, Raíces supports the process of inclusion and recognition of Latino families in the Emma community and the Erwin school district in Buncombe County, North Carolina.
2024: Youth OUTright
From January to March 2024, we partnered with Youth OUTright to support their advocacy work and the co-creation of safe, joyful, and empowering spaces for Queer and Trans youth between the ages of 11-24 who call western North Carolina home.
Youth OUTright’s mission is to create a world in which all Queer and Trans youth are supported to realize their power and autonomy through self-determination. They help youth resist oppression by building community, healing, and growing together.
2023 Community Impact
2022 Community Impact
If you have questions about community partnerships and donations you can contact community@eastfork.com.
