About Us

Our Story

When Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina in 2024, the devastation was immediate and overwhelming. Roads disappeared, communities were cut off, and critical supplies couldn’t reach the people who needed them most.

In that moment of urgent need, Venture Unknown, a 7,000-member overlanding and outdoor community, mobilized without hesitation. Our initial small group of volunteers quickly put together a structured basecamp for coordinating relief efforts in real time and deploying capable, self-sufficient teams into areas others simply couldn’t reach.

Armed with off-road vehicles, outdoor experience, and a shared determination to help, hundreds of volunteers stepped up. They delivered food, water, medicine, fuel, and essential supplies to families stranded by flooding and infrastructure failures. They checked on isolated residents, relayed critical information, and provided a lifeline to communities navigating the aftermath of disaster.

In the months following the disaster, our teams operated continuously across Western North Carolina—adapting, learning, and proving that skilled volunteers with the right tools can make an immediate and meaningful impact when traditional access routes are gone.

From Response to Purpose

As the immediate crisis faded, one thing became clear: what happened during Hurricane Helene couldn’t be a one-time effort.

In 2025, Last Mile Relief was officially formed to carry that momentum forward.

While we were grateful for a disaster-free year, we recognized it as an opportunity—not a pause. We’ve been using this time to build the foundation, partnerships, training, and infrastructure needed to respond even faster and more effectively when the next disaster strikes.

Because in the Southeast, it’s not a question of if—it’s when.

What We Do

Last Mile Relief exists to fill the critical gap between large-scale response and local need.

We specialize in rapid response, last-mile assistance—getting people and supplies into hard-to-reach areas when roads are damaged, power is out, and communities are cut off. By leveraging volunteers with overland, outdoor, and logistical skill sets, we’re able to operate where traditional relief efforts may be delayed or unable to reach.

Our focus is simple:

• Rapid deployment after natural disasters
  
  

• Supporting local communities in their most vulnerable moments
  
  

• Delivering critical supplies directly to those who need them
  
  

• Working alongside local agencies and grassroots efforts, not replacing them
  
  

Why We Do It

Because no one should feel forgotten when disaster strikes.

Last Mile Relief is built on the belief that everyday people—with the right preparation and a willingness to serve—can change outcomes in times of crisis. We’ve seen firsthand how a single delivery, a single check-in, or a single volunteer can restore hope when everything else feels uncertain.

Looking Ahead

As we prepare for the 2026 natural disaster season and beyond, our mission remains clear:
to provide rapid, reliable, and compassionate disaster relief to communities across the Southeast—especially those at the end of the road.

Whether through volunteering, partnerships, or support, everyone has a role to play in helping us reach the LAST MILE!