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The next Phase
From Disaster Relief to Long Term Recovery
Carrying the Mission Forward, Planting New Roots Downtown
Blue Ridge Rising is the next step in the journey that began with Rising Light Relief. After months of delivering meals, supplies, and support in the wake of disaster, we’re building something lasting—a downtown space rooted in both history and resilience.
The building itself tells a story. Once home to a 1950s soda fountain, it was a place where families came for comfort food, neighbors checked in on each other, and daily life slowed down long enough to share a meal. You can still see the worn circles in the old floors where the barstools once stood—a reminder of how important this space was to our town.
Blue Ridge Rising carries that spirit forward. With affordable family meals, house-made sodas and floats, pantry staples, and a tool library, it brings back the tradition of nourishment, comfort, and care that defined this corner for generations—now built for today’s needs.
It’s not a new mission—it’s the same heart, evolved. From disaster response to food security and long-term resilience, Blue Ridge Rising carries the light forward—one meal, one resource, and one neighbor at a time.
By introducing a social enterprise, Rising Light Relief invests in our community long-term. The space offers community resources and also sells nutritionally balanced family-style meals and beverages - with any excess margin being reinvested directly in the community. This model moves us from short-term relief in the wake of a disaster to a self-sustaining project that will continue to support recovery and resilience for the months and years it will actually take for our community to recover.
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About Rising Light Relief
Affordable & Nutritious Family Style Meals
Affordable & Nutritious Family Style Meals
Affordable & Nutritious Family Style Meals
At the heart of Blue Ridge Rising are our affordable, ready-to-heat family meals. Designed to be both nourishing and convenient, each meal is nutritionally balanced and prepared with care, then packaged so families can take it home and reheat with ease. Priced between $5 and $7.50 per person, these dinners cost less than fast food and provide greater value through wholesome ingredients, comfort, and quality. In a town left without a grocery store and where three of five restaurants closed after Hurricane Helene — leaving mostly gas stations and dollar stores with shelf-stable or fried food — these meals fill a critical gap by offering reliable, healthy options while sustaining Blue Ridge Rising as a social enterprise.
House Made Beverages
Affordable & Nutritious Family Style Meals
Affordable & Nutritious Family Style Meals
Our house-made sodas, teas, lemonades, shakes, and floats bring a touch of retro fun while serving a bigger purpose. As low-barrier items, they give anyone a reason to step through our doors — whether it’s a local neighbor curious to try something new or a visitor exploring downtown Bakersville. Once inside, customers discover more: affordable family meals, the free food pantry, the tool lending library, and opportunities for small business growth. By crafting our own recipes, we can keep prices low, offer diabetic-friendly options, and create a welcoming entry point that reduces stigma around seeking support while also drawing foot traffic to featured micro-business vendors.
Free Food Pantry
Tool Lending Library
The Free Food Pantry at Blue Ridge Rising is built on dignity and choice. Rather than handing out pre-packed food boxes, we provide a welcoming space where neighbors can “shop” at no cost, selecting the items their household will actually use and enjoy. Stocked through donations and community partnerships, the pantry ensures families have reliable access to nourishing food while respecting individual preferences. This approach not only reduces waste but also reinforces the belief that everyone deserves to eat with dignity and agency.
Tool Lending Library
Tool Lending Library
The Tool Lending Library at Blue Ridge Rising makes it possible for neighbors to access the equipment they need without the high cost of ownership. From saws and sanders to tillers and compressors, the library provides shared tools that support home repairs, rebuilding projects, and small-scale enterprise. By removing barriers to access, the program empowers individuals and families to take on projects themselves, strengthens community resilience, and ensures that recovery and revitalization remain within reach for everyone.
The Enterprise Program
The Enterprise Program
The Enterprise Program at Blue Ridge Rising is dedicated to strengthening Bakersville’s economy by giving space and visibility to local artisans, micro-businesses, and entrepreneurs. Anchored by a few resident creators and refreshed with rotating spotlights, the program highlights the talent and ingenuity of our community — from established woodworkers and jewelers to home-based businesses and new ventures. Every participant contributes back to Rising Light Relief, making The Enterprise Program both a platform for economic opportunity and a direct investment in our region’s long-term recovery and resilience.