In times of crisis, communities band together to help each other and see their neighbors through the rough times.
During the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which cut a devastating swathe through North Carolina with severe winds of more than 45 mph and 13 inches of rain that unleashed floods, volunteer groups handed out water, food, and other immediate necessities.
In the 5,000-person town of Swannanoa, 11 miles from Asheville on the I-40, organized church groups often led the way.
They set up in parking lots or at gas stations, hauling out barbecues and cooking hamburgers and hotdogs.
One group from the First Baptist Church came 85 miles from Simpsonville, South Carolina, on Oct. 4 to help out.
They brought bottled water, plenty of food, and their kids, setting up at a BP gas station’s courtyard off I-70.
Megan Sprayberry told The Epoch Times that the church was trying to be “the hands of Jesus” and help where they could.
She said they had brought not only food but also jackets and blankets.
At the same spot, Chuck Johnson and Brian Gray were taking emergency items to people in the area.
Johnson is a Realtor, and his business, Johnson Property Group, has been using its nationwide network to coordinate items for its delivery and distribution center.
Johnson said they were “delivering everything. Food, water, gas, propane, baby stuff.”
“We don’t want people to forget about us,” he said. “We may have eight more weeks without water.
“This has never happened in the history of time. The waters were seven feet above the highest ever.”
He said that the one-in-1,000-year event surprised even the experts.
“No one thought to prepare,” he said.
