Recent events have included tree plantings and tree giveaways in North Carolina and Tennessee
When Hurricane Helene moved inland over the Southeast, it dropped as much as 30 inches of rain on small mountain towns like Marion, N.C., Roan Mountain, Tenn., and many other communities. The flooding was catastrophic, the damage unprecedented and, sadly, at least 250 people lost their lives in the storm and subsequent flooding.
Over the past few weeks, thanks to support from our partners at the Arbor Day Foundation — with funding from Target, International Paper and several private donors — TU has been helping the rivers and people of North Carolina and Tennessee heal.
We have planted or given away more than 3,100 trees, worked with municipal partners, farmers markets, high school classes and many others to get trees in the ground along these badly damaged rivers and to put trees in the hands of residents and business owners looking to restore their own property in the watershed.
At a planting event on May 17 in Marion, N.C., the devastation from the flooding was still plainly evident in the debris field around Buck Creek and the homes knocked off their foundations, washed downstream and wedged into the wood line by the powerful surge.
“We’re trying to good work,” said Greg Norman, incoming president of Rocky River TU. “It’s humbling when you come into these remote areas and actually see the impact.”
Planting 200 trees along this barren stretch of river may seem like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound, but it’s the start of restoration, recovery and healing this community needs. For one volunteer, the tree planting was much more than another way to pitch in, ur was an important moment in the healing process as she grieves the loss of her son’s fiancé, who perished in the storm.
“I came out to give thanks to the people who are doing this, planting trees and giving their time and energy to this restoration,” said Margaret Norwood. “I look at the devastation and just understand where everything went. This was a neighborhood. Now it’s just nothing.”
A fitting reminder that the work we do reaches far beyond the banks of the rivers we restore into the very hearts of the communities where we work.
TU’s Jeff Wright was instrumental in planning the Buck Creek planting, with TU North Carolina Project Manager TJ Hawkins coordinating logistics on the ground.
Staffers Sean Sieler and Zoe Mihalas helped staff tree giveaways at farmers markets and individually reached out to dozens of community partners.
“We also appreciate the support from the Tennessee and North Carolina councils, as well as volunteers from the Land O’ Sky, Overmountain and Table Rock chapter, who helped with the hard work and with spreading the word and connecting community partners to the opportunity,” Hawkins said.
Along with 3,106 trees planted or distributed, this engagement event partnership connected TU to more than 75 volunteers and distributed trees to more than 200 individuals, most of them not current TU members.
And the work is just beginning. TU is already planning events for this fall and in future years in Asheville and Cherokee, N.C., as well as other impacted communities.