The owners of DayTrip, a queer bar and event space in North Carolina, have raised over $191,000 after their business was destroyed by Hurricane Helene.
Brandon Davis and his husband Davie opened the inclusive space in Asheville in August, merely months before the natural disaster struck the area. A few weeks later, on September 26, Hurricane Helene caused massive flooding, mudslides, and unprecedented damage to six states, including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. At least 230 people have been killed, according to ABC News.
Davis placed sandbags at the doors of DayTrip and moved expensive equipment off the ground, but never anticipated this level of devastation.
“We are in the mountains with 2,000 feet elevation and 300 miles from the coast,” he told NBC News.
Davis said the building had over 23 feet of water, completely destroying the business that he and his husband put their life savings into.
“It’s all gone,” Davis said in an interview with the New York Times. “Financially, I don’t know how to recover from this. All our money was tied up in this… I had a dream come true, and it lasted 32 days.”
The community was quick to act. Meredith Sims, a friend of the owners, started a GoFundMe to support the couple and their employees. It has since raised nearly $200,000, and continues to actively receive donations.
“We are overwhelmed with support and love, messages of kindness,” Davis shared on Instagram. “There is a light at the end of the tunnel for DayTrip, and we will rebuild and come back stronger.”
DayTrip is putting the love right back into their community of Asheville, where other business are facing similar struggles. Earlier this week, Davis gathered donations of personal protective equipment and dropped it off at local businesses, so they could access their buildings that are covered in toxic sewage. Davis is continuing to source donations of cold weather gear, including coats, generators, radios, tents, and blankets to give out to those in need.
Davis also has an Amazon wishlist where high-need donations can be purchased.
