As many of you know, Hurricane Helene devastated an area thought to be beyond the reach of such a storm. Heavy rains and strong winds tore through the mountains of Appalachia, wreaking havoc on East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. Once-in-a-lifetime flooding took countless lives and left $40 billion worth of destruction in its wake. As soon as the clouds parted, calls for assistance came in swiftly. People had lost everything, and to make matters worse, essential infrastructure—roads, fresh water, and electricity—was gone. Chaos could have taken hold, but the people of Appalachia weren’t about to let that happen.
As soon as the floodwaters receded, those of us in the area began to organize. Makeshift roads were bulldozed to allow for the delivery of much-needed supplies, resources, and aid. While downed trees were being cleared, local kitchens mobilized to provide meals for those in need. Schools became the de facto shelters for those displaced, and that’s where I found myself, in uncharted territory. I wanted to use Blackthorn Club’s resources in Jonesborough, Tenn., to help, so we jumped in when our Golf Superintendent’s wife reached out for meals, leveraging her connections with local schools to help.
On the first day, we delivered pulled pork, baked beans, cornbread, slaw, and sweet tea to 350 people. The gym had been set up as a dining hall, and people were lined up, ready to eat. The community was already mobilized, with teams distributing donations of water, diapers, and toiletries as we dropped off food. After emptying the truck, we unloaded over 1,000 pounds of items collected from our members and then returned to the club over the makeshift gravel road. My Sous Chef, Alejandro Rivero, and I had no idea we were beginning a three-week marathon that would result in 5,000 meals served and two tons of donations delivered.
As word spread that we were providing meals, monetary donations from our members came in, allowing us to continue without disrupting our budget. After a few days and some emails to World Central Kitchen, we began a partnership with them. Their organization and reach allowed us to extend further into surrounding communities in need. Each evening, we received word on the numbers and locations for the next day’s meals. A club member even donated a van, which allowed me to deliver most of the meals and deepen the relationships built at the start of our relief efforts. After three weeks of nearly nonstop meal production, we had to refocus on club events. Looking back, I would do it again in a heartbeat. Here are a few lessons learned from day one to day twenty-one:
- Do what you can, when you can, and don’t try to be everywhere at once.
- Plan, prep, and execute thoughtfully. I reused some prepped items across multiple meals without duplicating menu items.
- Think about a balanced meal—starch, veg, protein, and sometimes dessert. A little treat can brighten someone’s day.
- Trust your instincts. Early on, I was told another establishment was handling an area, but something felt off. Though exhausted, I followed up with my contact there and found that 250 people still needed food. It’s worth trusting yourself.
- Take breaks when needed; other restaurants can step in to fill gaps.
- Engage the membership for support. Everyone wanted to help but didn’t know how. By involving them, we offset meal costs and raised $20,000, which we redistributed to local charities.
- Share your efforts on social media to involve the community. An ex-employee in Seattle saw our posts, shared them, and raised funds for warm clothes, camping gear, flashlights, and more, which were sent to us for distribution.
- Utilize outreach organizations for guidance. With the club still open during the relief effort, we were prepping for 5,000 meals alongside our daily operations. World Central Kitchen, the Red Cross, and local food banks can direct you to maximize reach while maintaining a high club experience.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, know that you can help. It might be 5,000 meals or 10,000—everyone has something to bring to the table, so do what you can. If everyone pitches in, it all works out.
My biggest takeaway is that while the disaster’s shadow was dark, the sense of community and kindness shone far brighter. I hope you never face a disaster like this, but if you do, trust your community, trust your team, trust yourself, and get out there to do some good.
