First Lady Jill Biden arrived at the Asheville Regional Airport close to noon on Friday to meet with community members and volunteers in Asheville following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Her visit comes on the heels of Former President Donald Trump’s visit to Swannanoa earlier this week.
Biden was joined by Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, Director of Relief Operations for World Central Kitchen Fiona Donovan and World Central Kitchen Founder and Chef José Andrés.
World Central Kitchen has served thousands of meals in the region since the storm.
“We’ve been spread out across the western portion of the state North Carolina,” Donovan said. “In addition to food in North Carolina, our water response has been really critical. We’ve delivered 760,00 gallons of water so far.”
At Bear’s Smokehouse Barbecue on Coxe Ave, which serves as a World Central Kitchen location, Biden thanked volunteers for the work they are doing and then toured the facility. She put on a World Central Kitchen apron and gloves to help prepare beans in a line with other volunteers.
Governor Roy Cooper joined the first lady at another World Central Kitchen location, Ben’s Tune Up on Hilliard Ave.
Cooper and Biden scooped food into to-go boxes, serving about a dozen people who were waiting in line.
When asked what it means to the people in Asheville to see Cooper and Biden serving food, Andrés said it shows that the federal government has been on site from the first day.
“The first eight days I was here in Asheville, you saw him (Cooper) landing, living, visiting communities every single day,” Andrés said. “That's what we want our leaders to be. Independent from what political party they may be... America wants more of that.”
Andrés has voiced his support for Democrat Presidential nominee Kamala Harris on his instagram.
The last stop on the first lady’s visit to Asheville was at the Veterans Restoration Quarters (VRQ) on Tunnel Road which is run by the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM).
VRQ, a housing facility for veterans experiencing homelessness, is located right by the Swannanoa River and was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene.
Biden thanked Team Rubicon, a veteran-led humanitarian organization that helps communities before, during, and after disasters and crises. The organization is helping to remove and clear debris to prepare the site for restoration.
