HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) – Coal Country Candles in Downtown Hazard created a candle to raise funding for victims of Hurricane Helene.
Co-owner Shannon Gabbard said 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the Appalachian Helene Response Fund established by Appalachian Funders Network.
“We decided to use the name One Appalachia for the scent because we know that Appalachian people no matter where we’re located are strong, we’re resilient and we help each other,” Gabbard said.
Gabbard said the help the region received after the July 2022 flood is what inspired her and her husband to do something.
“The footage coming in over the news and on social media of the flooding especially in the Appalachian region as a result of Hurricane Helene I mean it just brought back a lot of emotions and memories from the 2022 flood that we experienced in southeastern Kentucky,” Gabbard said.
She added that the smell of the candle includes trees, berries, and hints of tobacco.
“We hope that everybody who purchases this candle when you take that candle home and you burn that candle that you’re also saying a little prayer and sending positive thoughts for all of those people in our Appalachian region who are experiencing so much loss right now,” Gabbard said.
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