Who We Are
Cooperate WNC is a grassroots nonprofit based in the mountains of Western North Carolina. We are building a stronger, more resilient region by weaving together food sovereignty, disaster recovery and resilience, leadership development, and cooperative economics. Our focus is on helping neighbors meet immediate needs while also creating systems of trust, belonging, and collective power that last beyond any single crisis.
What We Do
Cooperate WNC convenes and supports a regional network of mutual aid and cooperative economic projects across Western North Carolina. We grow local leadership by supporting grassroots organizers and community “hubs,” connecting them with resources, knowledge, and each other. Our work balances meeting immediate needs through mutual aid with building long-term cooperative infrastructure rooted in social and ecological needs.
Our Impact
After Hurricane Helene, our network proved its strength. We distributed funding to mutual aid groups on the ground, enabling a direct and rapid disaster response. Together, we weatherproofed emergency supply depots, purchased refrigeration equipment for food pantries, funded safety gear for forestry crews, and bought critical survival supplies for unhoused neighbors. We then invested in the future by bringing local leaders into our KinShip program, equipping them with cooperative skills to build lasting resilience. These innovative efforts showed how cooperation and community care can turn crisis into permanent resilience.