I live a few hours from Western North Carolina, which was hard hit by Hurricane Helene. Every day, I read and hear stories about friends, family, and other residents whose homes have been destroyed or badly damaged, who have been standing in long lines to get drinkable water, who have been running out of food, and/or who haven’t been able to leave their immediate area given the extensive road damage.
Every day, I also read stories about local volunteers and people from nearby communities who immediately pitched in to help others. While those affected by the storm could have chosen to hunker down and focus on caring for themselves and their families, they have been donating and cooking meals for strangers, picking up debris and removing trees to clear roadways, delivering needed supplies across towns, and providing rides for other residents to access food and clean water. So many people outside of WNC have been shopping locally and donating supplies to be delivered, donating funds to help families and business owners who have lost so much, and/or volunteering for organizations who are equipped to provide hands-on assistance.
I’ve been thinking deeply about the immediate volunteer response. In the wake of this devastating storm, community members didn’t hesitate, and they didn’t ask about political affiliation, level of education, employment status or position, or personal identity. Instead, they simply recognized that everyone needed to come together to help our fellow humans, who needed (and still need!) each other to provide myriad services, physical goods, and emotional support.
I hope that even after we remove the physical and emotional debris, reconstruct homes and businesses, rebuild roadways, and return to work, school, and other activities of pre-storm daily life, we will remind ourselves of this experience—that we need each other in our lives, that we all have a stake in our neighborhoods and communities, and that we are all better when we come together.