About Us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

28 February 2025

In September, just before Hurricane Helene brought severe flooding to Ashe County, 87-year old retired Army veteran, John Russo, headed to the coast to spend a few months, and the holidays, with his daughter and grandkids. He had plans to return home just before March. 

On Monday, February 24, John spent the day driving back from the coast to his home in Ashe County. When he arrived that evening, he discovered he no longer had a home. John’s home, 2 green houses, a barn, and a camper had all been lost to Hurricane Helene. That night, John slept in the truck in his driveway. On Tuesday morning, John met with Building Inspections, applied for FEMA, and engaged with the Ashe County Disaster Recovery Unit’s case management team. 

For the next two days John was able, through the partnership of the Disaster Case Management team and Steve Allen from Appalachian Church, to stay in a local hotel. He spent his days returning to his homesite to clean up debris and recover family mementos.

On Thursday, with the amazing assistance of Michael Barr with Hope Thru A Vision, the Disaster Case Management team was able to facilitate the transport and delivery of a donated camper from the Allegany County Commissioners to John. The case managers cleaned the camper, stocked in with non-perishable items and provided a generator. 

Today, through partnership with A Designers Touch by Lauren & Team - Bringing Hope Home, a team will head out to meet with John to fully decorate and stock his camper with new items such as pots, pans, bed linens, and a few home-cooked meals, at no cost to John.

John truly asks for nothing; he talks about his desire to help others and would give anyone the shirt off his back. He is a very kind man who tells the best stories and tonight, through generous donations and community partnerships, John will be sleeping in his new, fully stocked camper home on his homesite.

We would like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere gratitude to the Allegany County Commissioners, Hope Thru A Vision, Appalachian Church, and A Designers Touch by Lauren & Team’s Bringing Hope Home project, for their assistance in providing, setting in place, and decorating the camper home for John. 

We further extend this appreciation to all who have donated to Hurricane Helene relief and recovery in Ashe County. To continue to assist, financial donations can be made through Ashe County Recovery & Restoration, a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to help Ashe County Build Back Stronger from Hurricane Helene by helping fill the gaps from federal and state assistance with the goal of keeping residents on their homesites. For more information, you can visit www.ashecountyrecovery.com.