Back to our Roots
Rebuilding Community - A Space of Good Food & Good Company
This corner building in the heart of downtown once housed a 1950s soda fountain—the kind of place that wasn’t just for grabbing a drink, but for staying a while. Folks would pull up a stool at the counter, chat with the person next to them, and linger long after their ice cream float or cherry soda was gone.
It was a space where conversations happened naturally, where neighbors checked in on each other, where being together was just part of daily life.
You can still see the worn circles in the hardwood floors where the barstools once stood—quiet proof of how much that space meant to the people who gathered here. We wanted to bring that feeling back.
So, we’ve reopened the doors with intention. Not to recreate the past, but to carry its spirit forward. To offer something handcrafted and familiar—a soda, a float, a cold lemonade—and the kind of space that invites you to stay. Maybe you’ll catch up with a neighbor. Maybe you’ll sit down for a game of checkers or shuffle a deck of cards. Maybe you’ll browse community resources or just take a quiet moment to breathe.
Whether you're passing through or finding your way back, you’re welcome here.
It’s not just a look. It’s a return to what’s always mattered: connection, comfort, and a place to belong—right here in the heart of town.
Rooted in Recovery
Blue Ridge Rising is the Evolution of Rising Light Relief
Rising Light Relief began simply: neighbors stepping up for neighbors. From hot meals and supply runs to muck-outs and welfare checks, it was about meeting people where they were and doing what we could with what we had. Over time, the work deepened. A free pantry was set up. Deliveries continued for folks who couldn’t access help on their own. We helped rebuild homes and community spaces, found temporary shelter for families in crisis, and organized events that brought people together in the middle of so much loss.
Alongside volunteers, donors, and other partners, we kept going—not just because the need was great, but because the community deserved that and so much more. It was important to invest in our community—in Bakersville—and to build something that would last long after the initial recovery.
That’s where Blue Ridge Rising comes in.
It’s not a new organization—it’s the next chapter. A permanent space in the heart of downtown Bakersville where families can pick up affordable, homemade meals. Where folks can grab pantry staples, enjoy a soda or shake, access community resources, or just sit for a while and reconnect.
It’s a place grounded in care, dignity, and belonging.
The same spirit that carried us through the hardest days—now with the space to grow and keep going.
Rising Light Relief helped carry us through.
Blue Ridge Rising is how we rebuild and move forward—together.