What is Appalachian Recovery Collective?
We are a small collective of makers, born and raised in Appalachia. From East Tennessee to West Virginia, we care deeply for the people and communities of Appalachia, and this resonates through everything we do.
We make and sell distinctive, high-quality products that support local makers and the community. Our shop carries signature small-batch sundries, beautifully crafted art pieces, oddities, and everything in between.
We also offer mobile crafting and candle making classes, too! Participants will have fun learning new crafting skills and creating their own personalized handcrafted items at a location of their choosing. We will soon be offering classes at various locations in north central West Virginia, and links to sign-up will be posted on our What’s Happening Page.
Why and how does the collective support the community?
WHY: The collective was originally formed by case managers working in the recovery and criminal justice fields in East TN. We have experienced many of the same hardships as the folks we guide and support. We wanted to provide an alternative, sustainable, and holistic model of support in our community that empowers us all and encourages the recovery of not only individuals, but communities and society as a whole.
HOW: 25% of the profit made from item sales and paid mobile classes goes directly towards providing direct support for those most in need in our community. Whether it’s food, water, assistance with paying bills, clothing, or something else, the collective aims to be a resource for our local communities in Appalachia.
We also love to partner with organizations to offer classes free of charge to our friends in local outpatient or residential recovery programs and sober living houses. Making can foster a state of mindfulness and is a healthy outlet for expressing and processing emotions. When a person creates something beautiful, useful, or both, they gain a sense of purpose and meaning. Confidence, sense of accomplishment, and self-esteem grows. Making can also create new financial opportunities. We encourage and support our class participants in the same way we encourage and support our collective members, and apply the same maker culture emphasis on informal, peer-led learning through action.
Partnering with the collective!
Interested in learning more or joining our efforts? Please send us a message!