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Dear friend,
Grief mingled with gratitude. Loss sharing space with love. Heavy hearts making way for a resilient spirit. Western North Carolina has been riding a wave of emotions since Helene roared through town on September 27. The storm brought forceful winds and rushing water beyond what most of us have ever experienced.
It’s almost impossible to describe the devastation. Lives lost. Homes swept away. Businesses in ruins. How do you even process it all?
Knowing our community was hurting in a profound way, the team here at All Souls Counseling sprang into action. We mobilized additional therapists to work at care stations where people could come for food, water, a shower, to wash clothes, or to get help with FEMA applications.
Several times a week, All Souls Counseling therapists put on their bright blue T-shirts and walk through the crowds at these community care stations. One of them is Liz Lucarelli. She joined the All Souls team of licensed counselors in response to our post-hurricane outreach. At a care site, she hands out water or snacks. She asks people how they’re doing. She listens.
“It’s heartbreaking to hear the stories of what people have witnessed and experienced during and after Helene,” Liz says. “While there is a tremendous amount of gratitude, perspective, resiliency, and rebuilding occurring within our community, people are still deeply hurting, grieving, scared, and wrestling with heavy losses in their lives, losses that - even with time and healing opportunities - will remain.”
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