TROUTMAN, N.C. — Several areas throughout the Carolinas are working to restore basic needs for countless people affected by Helene. Some include those also impacted.
Valerie Cogdill is not shy at all when talking about her community in Banner Elk.
“I mean Banner Elk has our hearts. The mountains have our hearts.”
Where she struggles: reliving Helene and its impact.
“We don't have normalcy," she said. "There is there is rushing and racing, and the needs are so great."
Cogdill has connected with several vendors and residents in the Troutman area, filling tractor trailers with supplies. The community can pitch in online by visiting BannerElk.com.
She’s not alone, either -- Elisa Mora lives in Elk Park and was displaced following Helene.
“It's hard, it's devastating. We're fortunate, but others are not," said Mora. "How can you help your friend? How can you help your neighbor? What can you do for others? Because that's what it's about at the end of the day.”
Mora and Cogdill are joined by neighbors collecting any and everything for those who lost so much. It's helping keep them grounded.
"Getting up every day and trying to do something from afar, whether it's boots on the ground at home or coordinating things, that helps you find some type of normal to take care of our community and our friends and family," said Mora.
“I think we're finding normalcy in volunteering and creating logistics to help people that are not fortunate, people whose houses are destroyed, and we have a tree on our house and we're lucky," added Cogdill.
Their goal now: rebuild a community in the place they call home.
“I'm just grateful to be here at the end of the day and really just want to do whatever we can do to help," said Mora. "Doesn't matter your social class. It doesn't matter who you are. We're all friends, and we need to help each other at the end of the day.”
Contact Myles Harris at mharris5@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.