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Posted on 04/24/2025 6:13:12 AM PDT by MtnClimber
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.
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By the time the government gets started, the Amish will have finished everything and gone home.
Y3ah sure, that is just so that they can then turn around and burn and loot it... those crazy Amish thugs /s
I know. Every time there is a terrible crime people will say “Probably the Amish again”.
The lesson learned here should be, people, not gubmint are the solution.
Clarity. That is what the "politicians and bureaucrats" do and why they are so often angry when we notice....
This must not stand! Clearly we need to ban them from selling milk.
I checked, and at least they do use power tools. I just couldn’t imagine building a house without a powered saw.
This is SO heartwarming! Thanks for posting this!
It’d be nice if they were building everyone regular homes instead of barns, though. *SMIRK*
Just kidding! Wisconsin has a large Amish population. Intelligent, industrious and government-wary folks. My kind of people. ;)
Most of my furniture was built by Amish craftsmen. They do wonderful work.
“By the time the government gets started, the Amish will have finished everything and gone home.”
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How true, and any aid that should have been dispatched to this devastated area will probably wind up elsewhere as political pork.
Quietly probably so that the government doesn’t step in and make them delay for 5 years getting permits
Sounds to me like we should just handover FEMA to the Amish.
An Amish family lost a barn. The fire department tried to put it out but couldn’t. The barn rebuilding began as soon as the ashes were cold. Each year the Amish community has a dinner and pie auction, raising close to 20 grand. The money is all donated to the volunteer fire department to purchase specialized equipment. It has gone on for over 15 years.
They are wonderful people.
Info on the Great Needs Trust:
They are not listed with ‘Charity Navigator,’ though. Not sure why.
I've bought a fair number of Amish leather products: Expensive and excellent material, but spotty finish quality.
How well do the Amish take converts?
Asking for a friend.
+1
Make no mistake, the only thing bureaucrats are good at is ‘building’ obstructions to efficiency and progress.
Maybe more focused on functionality than appearance?
“Expensive and excellent material, but spotty finish quality.”
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Maybe they believe in function over form???
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