Helene Response
Helene was an
Act of Nature
Our volunteering is an
Act of God
Helene Response
Helene was an
Act of Nature
Our volunteering is an
Act of God
Group worked in this backyard to help a family create a safe space for their children to play
If you are interested in volunteering here, complete this interest form and a response coordinator from LDR Carolinas will be in touch with you soon!
When Storm Helene created disaster zones in both North and South Carolina, LDR Carolinas received generous donations from across the country and grant funding from Lutheran Disaster Response to serve the impacted communities.
Western North Carolina
39 counties in North Carolina as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians received Federal disaster declarations. That is nearly 40% of the state. We are supporting primarily 6 of those counties based on location of volunteer housing and LDR Carolinas staff. While the news portrays that Asheville NC received the most damage, the reality is that it is the only large city in this region that is well known, and damage is much more far reaching than just the city of Asheville.
Helping remove furnishings from a home due to mold in Newberry County
South Carolina
28 counties in South Carolina as well as the Catawba Indian Reservation received Federal disaster declarations. That is over 75% of the state. While the damage might not have been as devastating as WNC, the people and land of South Carolina also need our support.
What God-work looks like
Our response in the different communities is different based on the needs. Many groups have already come to North Carolina and we will continue to work with groups coming to help in the recovery. We are taking on our own projects as well as partnering with local organizations to match your group with disaster recovery work. Our role is to provide support so that the survivors can begin providing for themselves as soon as possible. Fewer volunteers have been at work in South Carolina, so much work remains.
Lots of work needs to be done underneath raised homes that were flooded
Disaster recovery work is very much God-work. The role of responders is to be open to letting God decide when and where and how our services are needed.
The needs are changing regularly. LDR Carolinas partners with local agencies to connect our volunteers with the work that needs to be done in the community. Some of the work requires skilled labor and some just needs willing & hard-working individuals. The work may include any of the following as well as opportunities we are unaware of yet:
- Indoor Debris Removal / “Muck and Gut”
- Outdoor Debris Removal (trash, trees, etc)
- Home Construction / Repair
- Heavy Equipment Operators
- Chainsaw Operators
- Lawn Clean Up / Landscaping
- Sorting Donations / Food Pantry / Distribution Centers
- Cooking
- Cleaning
- River / Trail Clean Up
We will do our best to match the skills you bring with the work that needs to be completed. At LDR Carolinas, we view this recovery work as God’s work to heal the people and land in which we live. We must be flexible enough to respond to changes in where God is calling us to focus the work on. This means the work you will be doing here will likely be determined the week before you arrive and might even change the day before you head to the assigned site. Depending on the size of your group, you may not all be working at the same work site. Through it all, we will remain in contact with each other!
Please note that volunteers must be 16 years old or older to participate in construction disaster work as most sites have age limits to enter their work site. When bringing anyone under the age of 18 you need to ensure your group ratio is 5 youth to 1 adult. The ages of your group will be considered when matching your group with work.
We will support you through your planning process, provide an orientation for your group upon arrival, arrange for work to be done while you are here, and close the time with you in reflection.
Reflections
Every volunteer is asked “Where did you see God working while you were here?” The prevalent themes are:
- Community and Togetherness: Many statements emphasize collaboration, teamwork, and strengthening bonds within the community.
- Faith and Spiritual Connection: Individuals share how these experiences helped them deepen their faith or witness the presence of God.
- Acts of Service: The joy of helping others—whether through labor, emotional support, or companionship—is a recurring theme.
- Healing and Renewal: Some reflections focus on recovery and hope for those affected by challenges or disasters.
- Gratitude and Growth: Many express thankfulness for the opportunity to serve and personal transformation through their experiences.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Participants mention working with people from various backgrounds and finding common ground.
- Hope and Transformation: Stories reflect how service projects sparked change and uplifted both individuals and communities.
Since the bridge was washed away, crossing a foot bridge to get to a work site
Cutting trim to install in homes flooded
Preparing meals for 500+ people a day almost 1 year following the storm