A creative partnership between Lowe’s Home Improvement and local eateries brings Thanksgiving meals to thousands of Western North Carolina residents while supporting businesses recovering from recent severe weather.
The initiative aims to distribute 3,000 family-style holiday meals through six Lowe’s locations across the region. At the Marion store, community members lined up hours ahead of the scheduled distribution time, highlighting significant local need.
Restaurant owners view the program as a welcome boost during their recovery period. Many establishments in the area struggled after experiencing direct storm damage or extended periods without basic utilities like water service.
The economic impact of the weather event hit particularly hard during what should have been peak business season. Tourism warnings kept visitors away from popular destinations like Asheville, dealing a blow to local restaurants already facing storm-related challenges.
“The economic strain has come from the storm where we were telling people to not come to Asheville or the whole area during the biggest time of the year,” said Brian Stouz of Zella’s Deli & Restaurant in Swannanoa.
By selecting storm-affected restaurants to prepare the meals, Lowe’s created an opportunity for these businesses to recoup some lost revenue while serving their community during the holiday season.
The program demonstrates how larger companies can provide meaningful assistance to small businesses while addressing immediate community needs, creating a ripple effect of support throughout the affected region.
The enthusiastic response from residents, shown through their early arrival times at distribution sites, underscores the program’s importance to the community during the holiday season.
