NORTH CAROLINA (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — “We make sure that we are holding their hand every step of the way,” said Jason Gudzunas, executive director for the Charlotte Metro Area Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Six weeks removed from Helene hitting Western North Carolina, the Red Cross is still utilizing a holistic approach to recovery.
“Some people that are still running on adrenaline, and they’re doing all they can, and they’re going to be looking back, and it’s maybe going to be somebody’s birthday that’s in a different spot than it was the past many, many years,” Gudzunas said. “Thanksgiving is coming up. Thanksgiving this year is going to be completely different than next year.”
The Red Cross has been boots on the ground, knocking on more than 14,000 doors in the western part of the state since the storm. They have mental health experts helping people dealing with the emotional hurdles that come along with recovery while also supporting them through financial and housing needs.