RAFI staff learned of Hurricane Helene’s devastating impacts on the eve of RAFI’s biennial Come to the Table conference. Since most staff were at the conference, the team quickly gathered to strategize a response plan and begin outreach to known farmers and farmer-serving organizations in the areas hit.
One of RAFI’s immediate responses for farmers was providing disaster relief payments, which helped cover essential needs like food, emergency repairs, and urgently needed supplies.RAFI provided over $45,000 in emergency relief payments to over 75 farmers in impacted areas.
Due to the heart and generosity of foundations, individual donors, and businesses, we were able to provide a second phase of regranting dedicated to infrastructure projects that would allow the farms to jump-start recovery efforts and cover costs for contractors to supplement their workforce.
We awarded grants to 14 farmers who were hit hard by winds, flooding, and other devastation. Those who received phase two grants were a combination of farmers RAFI worked with directly and farmers nominated by partner organizations in Western North Carolina. These grant awards ranged from $2,000 to $10,000, totaling over $125,000.
Farmers who received grants will begin projects such as rebuilding washed-out bridges, hauling in gravel to make access roads drivable, repairing greenhouses and high tunnels, and reconstructing wash and pack areas. RAFI is proud to award these farmers; we are in awe of their strength, resilience, and dedication. The 14 farms awarded are all direct-to-consumer growers, meaning the products they produce go directly to their surrounding community.
In addition to grant support, RAFI provided 225 farmers with information on USDA Disaster Assistance Programs and conducted in-depth technical assistance with 81 farmers. The technical assistance included helping farmers complete program applications, attending FSA meetings with farmers, and following up with agency staff on farmer assistance delays or denials.
Upon hearing that their farm would be funded, one grantee responded: “I’m so deeply grateful for the support RAFI extends to farmers. My farm would have closed without the help of RAFI and other organizations who believe in sustainable farms.” We are extraordinarily grateful for our partner organizations, donors, and the farmers who feed us.