From Florida to North Carolina to Tennessee, jewelry store owners are among the millions of people facing a new normal in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, two of the worst storms in American history, each estimated to have caused in excess of $50 billion in damage.
Amid the difficult work of rebuilding, some in the jewelry business are spearheading charitable efforts to help others. In Asheville, N.C., which was hard hit by Helene during the last week of September, Marthaler Jewelers is collecting supplies for survivors and raising funds for local nonprofit organizations.
Co-owner Tonya Marthaler says, “We are one of thousands right now that are doing so much. We’re very fortunate that people from out of state and people whose homes and businesses haven’t been damaged are jumping in and trying to help. There are so many acts of heroism and stories of survival. But there are also stories of those who didn’t survive.”
Asheville’s Spicer Green Jewelers is preparing a fundraising jewelry piece to help with relief efforts, says co-owner Eva-Michelle Spicer. Its theme will be the same as the sign on the jewelry store: “Love is alive.”
“That message is the most important thing right now,” Spicer says. “The destruction is so widespread. It’s not just one city—the map of the destruction is 200 square miles.”
Spicer Green reopened this week—the first store to do so in Asheville’s downtown, says Spicer. Her family wants to offer a place for people to gather and share resources and information, she says.
“We’re lucky to live in a place where neighbors help neighbors—it has been heartening to see the response from the community,” says Spicer, who is managing the business and being a mom to a newborn daughter as she deals with the hurricane damage.
“Our biggest concern was our team, and they’re all accounted for. One lost her house. That’s another reason for us to be open—we want to provide some relief for folks,” Spicer says. “It’s certainly not business as normal.”
The hurricanes have left Shanell Ryan, founder of Beach Sand Babe Jewelry on Anna Maria Island, on Florida’s Gulf coast, homeless. A friend has set up a GoFundMe for Ryan and her family.
“Our home flooded out with Helene and received more damages with Milton,” Ryan tells JCK by email. “We cannot live in our house because of these damages, and we lost all income due to our jewelry business being so closely tied to the local businesses and markets in the area.”
Marthaler Jewelers lost power for a time but did not sustain any water damage. Several employees did not have water or power at home, so they stayed at Marthaler’s house. She says that she and her staff are safe now but feel overwhelmed by the level of destruction, and that the journey to recovery will be “a long one.”
“It’s a lot. Everyone is feeling it,” says Marthaler. “The damage is just so vast, and I don’t think people who haven’t been here understand that multiple communities and generations have been affected by Hurricane Helene.”
Her fellow Asheville jeweler Spicer says, “The needs change so frequently. Two weeks ago we needed water. Now we need diapers and formula for people. Temperatures are starting to drop, so we also need heaters, coats, and gloves for folks.”
Spicer is president of the Rotary Club of Asheville, which is raising funds for local organizations that are helping community members. She says the Rotary has raised $50,000 so far.
Another way to help Asheville, according to Spicer, is to support its devastated arts community, buy from its small businesses, and plan a visit to restore its all-important tourism economy.
Although rebuilding is just getting started, Marthaler is inspired by what she sees says in the area.
“Our mountains have been altered forever by the destruction, but more so by the presence of so many incredible people who have been willing to give abundantly of their time, talent, skills, machinery, compassion, courage, and kindness,” she says.
Top: One of the photos Tonya Marthaler took showing the impact of Hurricane Helene in Asheville (photos courtesy of Tonya Marthaler)
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