It’s been a tough week for our community, there is no doubt. Still, the pictures, videos and
first-hand witness cannot do it justice. Our region got smoked. But despite this, we are feeling incredibly blessed as the shop did not sustain any permanent damage. After a frantic weekend of waiting out road closures and power outages we were able to contact all of our employees, ensuring everyone was safe after the hurricane. With Bob and Will stuck at their homes, but prepared with plenty of food and water to wait out a rescue, we turned our attention back to getting who we could clocked in and providing for their families.
Something about the forges warming back up and the power hammer swinging had us feeling a little more normalcy after the outside world was decimated by Helene’s impact. Still without the internet, we are combatting the challenges of a half-running business and decided to commence with our planned drop this weekend. Not only giving our team something to get them right back into the “swing” of things, but also to get one of our most popular layouts out to all the maker’s in need, especially the many who are putting their skills to good work creating raffles and fundraisers to benefit those affected far more than us.
We have some larger ideas in the works for how we can help our fellow east-coasters affected by the hurricane, but in the meantime, wanted to provide a simple and clean-cut landing page to find all of the fundraisers created for those in dire need. Below are each of the GoFundMe sites created for Maker’s that incurred HUGE losses, as well as info on a few of the raffles being hosted for those in need.
Trey's home and business in Marion, North Carolina were destroyed by flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. He is now hospitalized in Morganton. His fiancée, Julie, remains unaccounted for. Donations will help with medical bills, temporary accommodation, and new equipment for his shop. Trey owned Ole Hickory Forge and had been featured on the show Forged in Fire. With his shop also lost to the floods, he faces financial difficulties until he can reestablish his business in a new location. Find the fundraiser and donate here.
Josh Morgan of Primitive Woodsman, a close friend and tenant of what was once our business's old location, has suffered significant damage from Hurricane Helene. A landslide has destroyed half of his shop, leaving his equipment, including grinders and kydex tools, unusable. Josh, with his family and employees relying on him, urgently needs to resume operations. Funds raised will directly assist in replacing his lost equipment and potentially relocating or repairing his shop, as insurance won't cover the damages. Let's rally around Josh to help him rebuild and get back on his feet. Find his fundraiser here.
In addition to his GoFundMe, “Sharky” of Flying Shark Knives is hosting a HUGE raffle to which all proceeds will benefit Josh’s effort. This raffle is loaded with amazing knives and runs until Oct. 10. If you’re interested in entering, you can find all the details on Sharky’s profile on IG here.
We're highlighting the urgent need for support at Hoffman Blacksmithing, where both the shop and several employees' homes in Roan Mountain were devastated by Hurricane Helene's floods. This fundraiser is aimed at directly assisting these employees, many of whom are now out of work and struggling, to help them maintain financial stability as they rebuild their lives. Your contribution to this cause would be a beacon of hope during these trying times. You can contribute to Hoffman Blacksmithing’s fundraising efforts here.
We want to draw attention to Ryan and Katrina Pepper's situation in Marion, NC, where Hurricane Helene has left them isolated due to the destruction of their property's access bridge. Though their home remains standing, the loss of this bridge means they must navigate a challenging walk with their young children to reach their vehicle, severely impacting their daily life. Additionally, Ryan's income from their short-term rental cabin has halted without guest access, and their plans to open a community gym are on hold. Homeowners insurance won't cover the bridge replacement, nor will FEMA's aid be sufficient. Contributions towards their fundraiser will go directly to rebuilding this essential bridge, restoring their connectivity and livelihood. Find their fundraiser here.
Our media was a challenge this week. Without the internet at the shop, Waylon and I have been working overtime to collaborate on the creation and posting of our normally scheduled content. On Monday Waylon dropped into the shop accompanied only by CFO Bruce and did some editing, but without projects and employees to highlight we were limited. Thankfully with Jay & Cole back in the HQ on Tuesday, the week began to take the shape of the many before it.
We took a portion of Thursday’s drop reel to provide an update on our region’s damage, as well as the challenges we were facing this week. Piggybacking it with a pre-planned and well-anticipated drop. And while we are still knocking out some details, we hope to utilize the next drop to provide some relief for those most affected by this storm. In the meantime, we appreciate your business and want to thank you sincerely for your support during this difficult time.
We look forward to reuniting with the two employees who had it the worst over the last few days, Bob & Will, and hope to tell a bit of their side of the story in next week’s media, so stay tuned!
Sneak Peek 👀
This Saturday, we're excited to bring back RipTide Ultra - Ripple. Known for its popularity, this layout returns with its striking ripple pattern, crafted from Coppermascus Cladding, Nickel, 1084 Shim, and a Damascus core. Despite the recent challenges posed by Hurricane Helene, we've managed to rally our team, ensuring we keep up with your expectations for quality and consistency. Early access for app users starts Friday, with the public drop at 8pm EST on Saturday. Dive into a familiar favorite with fresh enthusiasm.
"Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it's less good than the one you had before. You can fight it, you can do nothing but scream about what you've lost, or you can accept that and try to put together something good.”
-Bernard Williams
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