One Buncombe is a community COVID-19 response fund sponsored by the Buncombe County Service Foundation. There are moments that define communities and ours will be defined by its willingness to help one another. Our application process has closed but you can still help us provide assistance to individuals struggling to make ends meet and small businesses with bridge funding. One Buncombe allows you to donate securely to support immediate relief efforts.
Donations to Date
$1,309,749
AMOUNT RECEIVED
1077
DONATIONS MADE
Please Note: As of 5/13/2020, the Safari web browser is no longer supported for making online donations.
Notice: The One Buncombe application deadline was April 25, 2020 at 12:00 a.m..
We are still continuing to contact those that have already applied in the order in which their application was received.
Please be aware that funds are limited and are not guaranteed.
COVID-19 Response Fund
Local governments, including the County of Buncombe and the City of Asheville, are teaming up with Business Leaders from the Asheville-Area Chamber of Commerce, Mountain BizWorks, and the Land of Sky Regional Council to launch the One Buncombe Fund, a centralized COVID-19 donation and relief center. The mission of the One Buncombe Fund is to support the basic needs of individuals who have lost employment due to COVID-19 and to provide bridge funding to our small businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.
The One Buncombe Fund provides a secure and immediate way to donate to the response effort.
The fund will be used for:
- Assistance to individuals and
- Loans to small businesses
Assistance to Individuals that have lost employment due to COVID-19
Individuals that have lost employment due to COVID-19 are eligible for direct assistance grants. Funds can be used for life essential needs caused by the COVID-19 public health crisis such as electric bills, deposits, fuel oil, kerosene, natural gas, propane, wood, mortgages, rent, overnight lodging, etc. Funds will be paid to the service provider, not directly to individuals. Assistance will be provided through Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS employees will screen applicants to ensure all other potential sources are leveraged, including public assistance programs (e.g., Unemployment Insurance) and the services of our community partners. The assistance worker will also make referrals to human services partners and programs to assist the client in alleviating their immediate crisis.
Assistance for locally owned small businesses
Small businesses impacted by COVID-19 will be eligible for low interest loans up to $10,000 with no payments due for up to 6 months. Loans will be designed to provide low-cost "bridge funding" to help businesses stay open and limit job losses until businesses can qualify for longer term disaster funding from SBA or others. At this time, small businesses are defined as businesses with less than 50 employees. Loan underwriting and administration will be provided by Mountain BizWorks, a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution.
Eligible uses include payroll, accounts payable, fixed debts, or other bills the business is unable to pay due to COVID impact.
NOTICE: Members of the public who have questions about donating, please contact Angelyn Johnson.
Please Note: As of 5/13/2020, the Safari web browser is no longer supported for making online donations.
We are grateful to our donors for stepping up and providing financial relief in Buncombe County. We wanted to share some of the words of appreciation from our individuals and small businesses who reached out to say “Thank You.”
“Thank you very much for all the help, I truly appreciate it.”
“This is truly a blessing, I don’t think I can thank you enough.”
“I wanted to write in just to thank you all so very much for helping my family. It means so much to us in these uncertain times. We hope to be able to give back once we are back on our feet.”
“Thank you so much for taking some of the pressure from our family. We really appreciate it!”
"Let me begin by expressing my gratitude to you and for the service that your agency is providing! I appreciate your compassion, patience, and diligence in helping me on the phone today.”
“I am overcome with gratitude and relief. Thank you all so much! Please let me know if there is anything I can do in return. I promise when I’m back on my feet, I will donate to this amazing relief fund for others who are struggling. I love our community so much! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
“You have restored my faith in my community and I wanted to let you know the work you do really matters to people like me.”
“Thank you so much for your help. I haven’t slept in two days worrying about what was going to happen. You are truly a godsend.”
"I am filled with awe and deep gratitude for the support that we and other small businesses are receiving from our community and feel inspired to forge ahead".
We manufacture Jun, a sparkling probiotic drink made with raw honey and green tea that is rich in probiotics. Jun has become known as the “Champagne of Kombucha” due to its light, smooth, and unique flavor profile. So, it is the perfect immune boosting beverage for folks to be drinking now. We have been in business for 3 years. In those three years, we have generated over $500,000 in revenue, with each year showing 50% growth from the previous year. Unimpeded, we projected to generate $375,000 in 2020 with our traditional revenue streams.
Unfortunately 90% of our wholesale accounts have closed. We are in the process of putting into place an e-commerce platform, connecting with home delivery companies, offering home deliveries, & working with Rangeme so that we can be picked up by larger grocery stores.
This loan could not have come at a better time. We needed the cash infusion for operating expenses and fortunately, the money showed up in my bank account right in the nick of time, right before payroll!
With this loan we now have working capital and I can keep folks employed and invest in our online marketing and e-commerce platform to stimulate revenue. We plan to promote our DIY Jun Brewing kits because we have noticed a spike in goods related to self-sufficiency. With people less inclined to going out, anything that they can do for themselves in their homes is becoming in demand. We expect that with a push in our online marketing campaign our sales will take off allowing us not only to survive but to thrive!
In love and light,
Shanti Sunshine Volpe
Shanti Elixirs
Founder and Owner