Boone

The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation has reopened the window to apply for its Hurricane Helene Business Resiliency Disaster Grants.  

It’s been nearly three weeks since tropical storm Helene hit western North Carolina, flooding homes, washing away roads and upending the rural mountain towns in its path. But throughout this period of upheaval, educators have been working with kids to restore a sense of normalcy — if only for a few hours in the day.

Appalachian State University resumed classes today after being closed for a little less than three weeks due to Helene. But for students who lost their homes and belongings in the storm, returning to school isn’t easy. 

This nonprofit started small over 40 years ago but now has a staff of more than 20, including two dietitians and a pharmacist, providing medicines and healthy food to people across the region.

A Mexican restaurant in Boone has vowed to keep serving warm food for victims of Hurricane Helene as long as it's needed.