Helping Asheville small businesses this holiday season | [Video]

Asheville, North Carolina (CNN) — If you’re going to do some online holiday shopping this year, considering spending your dollars with small businesses in Asheville, North Carolina, where you’ll be directly impacting a community still struggling from the effects of Hurricane Helene.

Almost every employer in Asheville was affected by the hurricane, whether their building was destroyed, their employees moved away, or they just didn’t have any water to do business.

Residents worry that if their small businesses don’t come back, predatory real estate investors could move in, filling Asheville with chain stores and restaurants, completely changing the character of the mountain town.

Asheville’s small businesses are counting on this holiday season to pay their employees and keep their businesses open for next year. Many are also donating a portion of proceeds to rebuilding efforts in their town.

So if you’d like to help some people who really need a boost this year – and …