ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Two months after Hurricane Helene, a musician is working to restore the instruments lost through donations.
Nicholas Williams, a Chattanooga-based musician and podcast host, says music is crucial to the culture of Appalachia and Western North Carolina.
"Music is a mechanism that we use to understand ourselves, understand our surroundings, and imagine like the most traumatic event of your life happening, and you can't do that," Williams said.
Using his connections to other artists, instrument makers, and nonprofits, he started 'Restring Appalachia,' a movement to get "quality instruments back in the hands of those who lost them due to Hurricane Helene, and Hurricane Milton."
He told WCNC Charlotte that it's especially important in this region, where songs are often used to pass down history.
"It's really important to get instruments back in the hands of people that want to continue that lineage, of passing on that oral tradition to their children, or maintaining that line of lineage from their grandparents or from their parents," Williams said.
He added it's also important to him to connect these musicians with instruments similar in quality and style to what they lost.
"We can't replace 100-year-old banjos that were passed on from grandfathers," Williams said. "But we can get really nice, handmade banjos."
If you're looking to donate a quality instrument or you're looking to receive a donation after losing your instrument, you can fill out the forms on his website.
Though they've focused their initial efforts on Western North Carolina and Asheville, he's working to make sure everyone who needs help is reached, including in South Carolina.