Residents across the southeastern United States are still grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, a “monster storm” that struck on September 26, 2024, claiming at least 227 lives and wreaking havoc across six states, according to the Associated Press. On October 4, HGTV star Jenny Marrs expressed her sorrow over the destruction of a beloved part of North Carolina, where she spent much of her childhood.
In an online essay and social media posts, Marrs reflected on her deep connection to Beech Mountain, a quaint ski town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, sharing old family photos from their vacations.
“Many of my childhood memories are intertwined with this beautiful place,” Marrs wrote, adding that witnessing the devastation from her home in Arkansas left her feeling “heartbroken, helpless, and grief-stricken.” She encouraged her followers to support relief organizations dedicated to aiding the affected communities.
Jenny Marrs shared a heartfelt portion of her essay on social media, reminiscing about her cherished memories of Beech Mountain, where her grandparents owned a cabin for 20 years.
She recalled how her family would make the 12-hour drive to Beech Mountain twice a year. Marrs fondly described how she and her siblings would spend their days “exploring imaginative lands in the forest” and hiking the “endless trails off the Blue Ridge Parkway,” enjoying picnic lunches on boulders while dipping their feet in crystal-clear streams.
“Everything I’ve learned about adventure and the importance of time together, I learned on that mountain,” Marrs wrote in her Substack essay. Hurricane Helene severely impacted Beech Mountain, and as of an October 5 update, the area still lacked functioning water, power, and sewage systems, with a nightly curfew in place from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Marrs praised the search and rescue teams and volunteers providing essential supplies like medicine, food, and water, describing them as lifesavers. She urged her followers to support organizations like Samaritan’s Purse, Convoy of Hope, Mercy Chefs, and Cajun Navy Relief.
On October 6, Marrs posted a video announcing that for the next week, her family’s Marrs Mercantile will donate 15% of all proceeds to Samaritan’s Purse from sales of her book *House + Love = Home*, which will be autographed by her, along with its companion candles and handmade mugs. Participants in the fundraiser will also receive a Berry Farm hat signed by her husband, Dave Marrs.
Though she admitted feeling “helpless” in the face of the storm’s destruction, Marrs found solace in “stories of hope,” such as neighbors coming together to help each other and volunteers dedicating their time and resources to rescue missions in the remote, road-inaccessible mountain towns.