BeLoved Asheville continues to provide one year after Hurricane Helene

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- When the hurricane hit Asheville last year the storm was bad, but for many the aftermath was worse. There was no food, power, or water for weeks. Which is why so many people turned to their community for help.

A year ago a reality for families was waiting for hours for drinking and bathing water

There was no power or Wi-Fi to connect with family, there was also limited food and personal hygiene products.

That's where organizations like BeLoved Asheville turned into an anchor of support.

"When you come this close to death, you realize that every person is valuable and that we can't treat anybody as less," said Amy Cantrell with BeLoved.

Piles of donations came from all over the country.

Everything from bottles of water to diapers and cleaning supplies.

Soon their donations were key to surviving and in the year since they have turned survival into support for long term recovery.

"This is very personal for us. We have one entity, one organization that came from that place. We are organization of these be rooted in this community. This is where you saw us sharing supplies and now doing this, because this is these are family, these people. And we know and we have been known for many, many years," explained Poncho who is also an organizer with BeLoved

The non-profit looks much different today than it did a year ago.

They now assist in getting folks into new homes, rebuilding old homes, and finding resources for people still struggling.

"We have to respect each other and we have to show up for each other because we're all we have. We're all we have. When when things get really terrible," said Cantrell.

They encourage every community to build something similar because you never know when a 'Helene' could hit your town.

"I remember Poncho saying for years, you know, we've got to work out. We've got to work this muscle of community, whether it was taking food to families or creating a free farmers market, building houses. We knew. And he said if the time ever comes, we're going to be the largest rapid response group in this community because we know each other and we know how to do this together and so we tell people, Do this now, don't wait and knock on the doors of your neighbors. Get to know them, know what your gifts and resources are, what your needs are in your neighborhood, and they will change you for the better and it will prepare you," explained Amy.