Our SLAG Story
About Strong Like a Girl (SLAG):
At Strong Like a Girl (SLAG), we believe in standing together through the storms—literally and figuratively. Born from the resilience witnessed after Hurricane Helene in the Appalachian and foothills regions of the Carolinas, SLAG was created to provide care, compassion, and practical support for individuals, families, and communities navigating life after crisis.
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Rooted in Resilience
Our founder, Natalie Sanmiguel, is a proud native of Boone, North Carolina, with deep roots in the region and a heartfelt commitment to helping neighbors rebuild after life-altering events. Now based in Greenville, South Carolina, Natalie works as a CRNA at a small rural medical center in the Upstate. On the morning of September 27th, while making her way to the hospital, she was caught in the side wall and eye of Hurricane Helene.
Despite losing power for ten days and enduring a dangerous commute, her challenges paled in comparison to the loss experienced by her community. Inspired by the strength and dignity of those around her, Natalie felt a powerful call to respond.
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A Call to Care
“I watched the trucks roll in—giant energy and supply crews restoring infrastructure, massive power tools clearing debris. The masculine response was immediate and powerful—and very much needed and appreciated. But I realized I had something different to offer.
My nature is to nurture—with warmth, food, water, and calm. I felt called to match that powerful energy with my own—to help people reclaim hope and a sense of self in a way that’s deeply personal and true to me.”
– Natalie Sanmiguel, Founder
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What We Do
SLAG focuses on restoring lost personal items—those intimate, grounding pieces of identity and belonging that are so often swept away in the chaos of crisis. Whether it’s a child’s musical instrument, a cherished keepsake, or comfort items for daily life, we listen to what people need and respond with compassion and care.
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Our Mission
At SLAG, we believe that recovery is as much about compassion as it is about action. We aim to transform hardship into healing—
One person. One story. One act of kindness at a time.
 Watauga County Road Recovery |  Recovery and Restore |
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 Donations Coordinated to get into secluded back-country. |  5am trucks starting up for the day |
Stories of Strength
Our Vision
At Strong Like a Girl, we want to give a hand up.
We began our collaborative efforts after Hurricane Helene.
In the immediate aftermath of the storm, we pitched in to clean up, donate and delivere needed supplies, brought in displaced people, and gave Christmas gifts to children.
It felt like a great start but, there is so much more that needs to be restored.
Our vision is to do more by connecting on a personal level. We strive to coordinate resources and extend offerings aimed at helping replenish the culture of community. The Appalachian Mountain and foothill region is steeped in a cultural richness. People here make music, pottery, poetry, quilts, and needlework. They have self-identified talents and hobbies that cultivate unique and inspiring art. Agriculture and deep-rooted cuisine are unlike any other in the world.
Help is still needed in so many ways. Our vision is to find creative ideas in order to help restore what makes this region so special. We plan to extend this vision into the unforeseen needs of the future, as this extraordinary region rebuilds and restores.