In the weeks following Helene’s devastation in WNC, with each day that goes by we see the community stepping up to support each other, whether it be through neighbors helping neighbors, grassroots organizations providing aid, or businesses transforming into recovery hubs, among countless other examples.
In our newsletter and on social media, we invited you to share your stories of how you’ve seen the community come together — and today, we’re sharing some of the stories that have kept us all going in this time of crisis.
If you’d like to share what has inspired you, shout out a neighbor, or anything in between, you can submit stories through our survey — we’ll continue to share more responses in future newsletters.
Your stories of support
“My husband is a nurse at an NC long-term care facility. He was at work a lot overnight for days then helped evacuate 80 high-needs patients to other areas of NC, then went to check on them east of Raleigh. I was home alone a lot. I am in two poetry groups not currently meeting, so I’ve been writing a poem a day about the hurricane/recovery since the beginning. It’s keeping me sane and grounded, and I plan to publish the poems in two volumes, one for the first 30 days, and then a second volume for the next 11 months of hurricane recovery. Both will largely be fundraisers for recovery efforts.” — Kelly R.
“The overwhelming outpouring of love and support that we saw with our own eyes... bearing first-hand witness of brother helping brother, neighbor helping neighbor, and human helping human warmed our hearts and soothed our spirits. Two weeks after Hurricane Helene rocked this part of the country, entire towns still have no power, no water, no heat, and in many cases, no homes, no food, and no family. The sheer scale of devastation is inconceivable, the vastness of it is simply staggering to behold. In the face of overwhelming devastation, loss, and trauma, so many kind and loving folks continue to show up for one another.” — Denise P.
“It feels little, but when asking how you are, people mean it! They really want to make sure you are good. And have a list of resources if you are not good!” — Hannah C.
“Lo and Behold Stitchery in Black Mountain has an incredible, uplifting story. The owner put out a call to her online customers to send any extra quilts they had to her so she could distribute them in the community. So far, she has received over 900 quilts!!!” — Mary Margaret J.
“Met more of my neighbors the past few weeks than ever before.” — @mj.g.10
“Budgie’s Bakeshop fed Candler fresh bread and became a hub of recovery items and supplies.” — @evlyngo
“Resource sharing! Every time I gave something to a neighbor, I received something I needed in return.” — @kge
“Our neighbor forged a path for us to drive through his front yard after we were trapped.” — @kaa_chow
“Seeing my kids serve people in need day in and day out.” — @susannahjamison
