Support Weddle family after hurricane Helene

Dear friends,

My name is Richard Weddle. I am from the Leicester, NC in Western North Carolina near Asheville. Me, my wife, and 3 young kids have been blessed to be able to live off of my rental car business for the last couple years. It's with a heavy heart that we reach out for support, something we've hesitated to do, but the devastation from Hurricane Helene has left us with little choice. Our family-run Turo car business, which has sustained us for years and is deeply tied to Asheville’s tourism, has been severely impacted. In the wake of the storm, the region has shut down, and every single booking has been canceled. While our home was spared from damage, the loss of income has been devastating.

As a neurodivergent family, we rely on the stability and routine this business provided. Richard's dedication to customer service kept our business thriving with high ratings, which allowed him to spend much-needed time with our family – time that wasn’t possible before. Now, with our kids needing additional support as they navigate school, I’m less able to work and provide as I once did.

We’ve always found strength in the community and nature of Asheville, a place we’ve loved deeply since we fell in love here in 2007. This region, with its mountains, rivers, and trees, has been our sanctuary, and we can’t imagine being anywhere else. We want to stay and rebuild, but the path forward is uncertain.

Your donations will go towards covering the expenses that continue to accumulate – business loans, moving our vehicles to Charleston for the winter to see if bookings pick up, and maintaining our home and living expenses through these difficult months. We have creative ideas for the future, but with the disaster of Hurricane Helene, those plans feel out of reach for now.

We’ve been humbled by the resilience and strength of this community, and we hope to be part of its recovery. If you can contribute, it would mean the world to us as we try to rebuild and continue calling this beautiful place our home.

With love and gratitude,

Richard & Family