On Thursday, September 26 ‒ the Forefeast of the Exaltation of the Cross ‒ Hurricane Helene struck the Asheville-Fletcher region of Western North Carolina. By evening, St. Nicholas Church in Fletcher had lost power and internet, yet a few parishioners braved the storm to attend the festal All-Night Vigil.

The hurricane’s destruction forced the cancellation of Friday’s Liturgy for the feast. However, the church held Vigil on Saturday evening and Liturgy on Sunday, both without electricity. By Monday, the extent of the damage became apparent: the church property suffered minor damage, but neighboring properties experienced severe destruction. Roads were blocked, and most of the area lost power, water, and communication services.

Responding to these challenges, the St. Nicholas community mobilized with parishioners forming teams to clear roads and driveways with chainsaws. Due to its proximity to the airport, St. Nicholas Church became a hub for gathering and distributing essential supplies by Wednesday. The church received donations from supporters and began distributing them to organizations including International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC). As the week progressed, efforts shifted to support remote, cut-off communities.

The church utilized social media to reach out for help, and many responded with support. Reports from rescue teams revealed that many isolated individuals were reluctant to leave their properties, even with houses destroyed or uninhabitable. In response, the church began gathering practical supplies like propane, tents, and shovels along with food that the rescue teams would get to those people.

With this the focus shifted to supporting organizations working out of Burnsville, NC. On the following Tuesday, Fr. Steven traveled on a delivery run to bless the supplies and rescue vehicles. Meeting with rescue teams, he learned that the major concern was not a lack of immediate supplies, but the long-term challenge of rebuilding lives and communities given the level of destruction.

The St. Nicholas community will continue to help their new friends in the affected areas, recognizing that the road to recovery will be long and challenging.