BBF Grant Supports Recovery with Bounty & Soul

BBF has provided a grant to Bounty & Soul in Black Mountain, NC, to support their recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene. This funding will enable the organization to continue delivering fresh food, essential supplies, and long-term solutions to communities in the Swannanoa Valley that were severely impacted by the storm.

Founded in 2014, Bounty & Soul is a community-driven organization that brings together food access, farm sustainability, and health equity to support thriving communities. Its mission is to connect, share, and celebrate nutritious food, education, and community. Bounty & Soul also describes itself as a social justice organization focused on increasing community access to fresh produce, supporting local farms, and advancing health equity through whole-person education, fitness, and resources addressing social determinants of health.

In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Bounty & Soul adapted its operations to address urgent community needs. Over three weeks, the organization provided 2,000 hot meals daily to 19 of the hardest-hit neighborhoods in Swannanoa, Black Mountain, Fairview, and Old Fort. These efforts were bolstered by partnerships with local restaurateurs and volunteer chefs, who used fresh, often local, ingredients to prepare meals. The organization also distributed household supplies and equipment tailored to the needs of impacted families. By late October, Bounty & Soul resumed its large-scale fresh food distribution, serving over 5,375 individuals weekly through its mobile Farmers Market Truck and other market locations across Buncombe County.

Currently, Bounty & Soul operates 11 markets each week. The organization prioritizes sourcing food from local and regional farmers to sustain the local food economy while meeting the growing needs of Hurricane Helene-affected communities. Additionally, they continue to support local chefs in Swannanoa with fresh produce for approximately 1,000 hot meals daily. Their Benevolent Box program provides healthy food boxes to 88 households weekly, focusing on those with medical and transportation challenges, while another 180 households benefit through North Carolina’s Healthy Opportunities Pilot. By building efficiencies into its food sourcing, purchasing, and distribution systems, Bounty & Soul is able to restore stability to households while investing in the long-term sustainability of the local community.

On behalf of the board, staff, volunteers and participants of Bounty & Soul, I want to thank Brother’s Brother Foundation for your generous donation to Bounty & Soul’s Hurricane Helene Relief efforts.  Words can’t begin to describe how meaningful it is to have your support at such a difficult time as this. Please know that we will be exceptional stewards of these funds, ensuring that our neighbors here in WNC are nourished, and their critical needs are met. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, for your compassion, care and for your belief in our collective work. It is needed now more than ever.

Ali Casparian, Executive Director of Bounty & Soul.