Help support our family from hurricane Helene

Hey, Everyone. It’s taken me a while to begin processing the extent of the hurricane and flooding. As we all have seen from the photos and images of Western NC, Helene’s devastation continues to be shocking.

I’ll start by saying that though my family and I are safe—and for that we’re grateful—we who worked in the River Arts District have been rocked to the core by the destruction of our beloved RAD.

And I’m among the lucky ones: though my second-floor salon flooded and was underwater for days, I was able to salvage my equipment and products.

That said, I no longer have a salon or workplace—and It will certainly take some time to find a new space and rebuild.

Also, though my husband Ben’s home glass studio was spared, he’s left with few outlets to sell his work and a very poor forecast for both the fall and Christmas seasons. Along with other RAD artists, Ben has had his livelihood severely impacted.

And along with his glass art, Ben’s newest project—his fly fishing guide service—is now impossible to pursue because of the conditions of the local rivers and riverbanks.

We are trying to remain strong amid these setbacks. And, as a young family, we are finding emotional support from our families and friends as we pick up the pieces of our lives. Our two-year-old daughter, Harper, remains a bright spot in all this craziness, though it’s always a challenge to get things done with a toddler!

With so much need in our community, it’s hard to put out this GoFundMe appeal for help—yet here I am. If you have the resources to help, my family and I would be grateful for your support.

In closing, I send my love to you, my friends and clients, and I hope that you and your families are beginning to thrive after Helene.

With gratitude and love- Jenna, Ben, and Harper ❤️