No veteran should be left to weather the storm alone.
Following the recent floods at the Veterans Restoration Quarters, a United States Navy cover and seabag were discovered along the banks of the French Broad River in Asheville, North Carolina, items washed out from one of the veterans’ rooms.
150 heroes of our nation have been tragically displaced due to the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Helene on the Veterans Restoration Quarters. This facility in Asheville, which provided essential housing and support, has been devastated, urgently needing our help to rise from the ruins. Local and national aid groups, including Veterans Bridge Home and Team Rubicon, are spearheading the effort to restore operations by Veterans Day 2025. This monumental task calls for widespread community support, and by contributing to organizations like Veterans Services of the Carolinas, ABCCM, and Veterans Bridge Home, you can help secure a brighter future for these veterans.
The devastation in Asheville is a stark reminder of nature’s fury. Visiting the town for the first time since the storm, I was profoundly shaken. My wife, who works with Veterans Bridge Home, had been coordinating volunteer teams to help with the recovery efforts. Despite her updates and the news coverage, I was utterly unprepared for the scale of destruction. The sights and smells of decay and waste were overwhelming—indelible marks of the storm’s violence that stayed with me long after I left. It broke my heart to witness such ruin in a place that has been a backdrop to family vacations and cherished memories over nearly a decade in the Carolinas.
Memories of ABCCM
This tragedy hits particularly hard because it affects a community of homeless veterans who were already fighting to rebuild their lives. The physical destruction of the Veterans Restoration Quarters isn’t just a loss of property but a severe blow to the stability and progress of many who have already sacrificed so much for our country.
Your involvement can truly make a difference. Whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word, your support helps provide not just the bricks and mortar to rebuild the quarters but also restores hope and dignity to those affected. Learn more and consider supporting the recovery efforts through these vital organizations:
• Veterans Services of the Carolinas: Learn more
• Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM): Donate here
• Veterans Bridge Home: Get involved
This is more than a call to action—it’s a plea for compassion and solidarity. Let’s come together to mend the tears in our social fabric and rebuild stronger than before, honoring our veterans with every step forward.
