ASHVILLE, North Carolina. (WCAX) – More than a month after the remnants of Hurricane Helene devastated parts of the Southeast, Vermonters continued to head south to help with recovery efforts.

“I saw a lot of homeowners crying because they were looking at their homes and watching us destroy them,” said Kirsty Greeno, who arrived in the Asheville area about three weeks ago as part of a volunteer group called Core. “They deserve to be at home like all Vermonters deserve to be at home.”

Rutland’s wife doesn’t know anyone in the area, but she was compelled to help with hurricane relief, especially after flooding hit Vermont two years in a row. “You remember how you felt when the waters hit your house and you recognize that now other people are going through that too,” Greeno said.

Other Vermont volunteers, like Val Delusky, have ties to North Carolina. “I graduated from college in North Carolina, so it’s close to my heart,” Delusky said. She is with All hands and all heartsa group ripping out walls, removing furniture and repairing houses. She says it’s exhausting but rewarding work. “This work can be emotionally and physically exhausting, but also incredibly rewarding at the same time. »

“We work in a neighborhood that was completely destroyed by Hurricane Helene,” said Kris Boyd, another Vermont volunteer with All Hands and Hearts, and described the destruction as heartbreaking. Full disclosure: he’s my partner. “The devastation is pretty bad,” Boyd said.

Trash in trees, crushed cars, ruined businesses and homes, and torn lives apart. Boyd says at a time when the country is so divided, everyone should come together to help during disasters like this. “It’s a time and place where communities come together and I really wanted to represent Vermont in that,” he said.

Helen’s death toll is at 229 in seven states, but North Carolina has been hit hardest and the death toll just passed 100 this week. Some people are still missing and some communities remain uninhabitable – without water, sewerage or electricity.

“They are really fighting to get their communities back and we need to support them in that,” said All Hands and Hearts organizer Jess Sharman. She says the group plans to stay here for a year. “There’s a ton of work to be done here.)”

Greeno will continue volunteering here through December with Core, then join All Hands and Hearts through March — a long work schedule in a region facing a long recovery. “It’s definitely the hardest job I’ve ever done,” she said.

All Hands and Hearts is always looking for donations.I

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