Recovery and rebuilding efforts from the devastation unleashed by Hurricane Helene on towns like Chimney Rock, North Carolina has largely faded from the headlines and the public’s awareness.

Over the past 6 months, however, a team of 2,000 volunteers from the Great Needs Trust, a Pennsylvania Amish community, have been quietly and steadily rebuilding the town’s homes, businesses and bridges.

Chimney Rock Mayor Peter O’Leary told WCNC, “When we look around, we still see tremendous damage and realize it will take a long time to build back. But at the same time, we have made tremendous progress, and that is very encouraging.”

The Amish volunteers have offered skilled labor and compassion in their efforts to help rebuild the community with volunteer Amanda Zook describing how they “Our hearts just felt drawn to come help the people in this area.”

Amos Stoltzfus is another volunteer who traveled hundreds of miles to come to the aid of the residents of Chimney Rock.

Stoltzfus remarked, “It just fills my heart with joy, watching people get their life back again. Somebody that was completely devastated through the storm … somebody who didn’t have anything … it is just so encouraging to see them get back on their feet.”

The western North Carolina mountain community was among the hardest hit during Hurricane Helene with virtually every business sustaining some level of damage.

Mayor O’Leary noted that the recovery will be a long-term effort, stating, “This is a multiyear process. It is a huge job that is going to take a lot of input, a lot of resources, a lot of efforts by a lot of people. All of the building material going into these stores has been donated up to this point, and it has just been a tremendous recovery story that is ongoing.”

While politicians and bureaucrats have bickered and postured over how to direct government aid to storm-devastated communities like Chimney Rock,  the Amish members of the Great Needs Trust are showing what compassion and community, combined with action, can accomplish.