One of the most unique ways we support recovery is by bringing in teams from AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). These dedicated young adults, ages 18–25, travel across the country answering communities' calls for help. Over the past year, UWABC has coordinated applications, built partnerships, trained, and placed four AmeriCorps NCCC teams across Buncombe County to support recovery efforts.
Our commitment to the Long-Term Recovery of Buncombe County from the devastation of Hurricane Helene takes many forms.
From serving on leadership and steering committees with the Buncombe County Long-Term Recovery Group(LTRG), to acting as the LTRG's fiscal agent, stocking Community School resource rooms, and mobilizing volunteers through Hands On Asheville Buncombe. We have been here since the earliest days of recovery, and we will continue to show up.
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There is something special about watching these teams arrive. They come from every corner of the country, bringing energy, curiosity, and a willingness to serve. In turn, our Appalachian community welcomes them in. Soon, they can be found working in neighborhoods, on construction sites, and alongside local organizations in all the nooks and crannys of our county.
As we take a brief pause in hosting AmeriCorps teams, we want to celebrate the accomplishments of our most recent group, and our last group for several months: Maple 1.
During their five-and-a-half weeks in Buncombe County, Maple 1 partnered with All Hands and Hearts, working weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to help families recover from the impacts of Hurricane Helene. In that short time, they completed repairs and renovations on three homes, helping displaced families move one step closer to returning home. Along the way, they learned valuable construction skills, including drywall installation, insulation, weatherization, painting, trim work, and flooring installation.
Here are a few highlights from Maple 1’s impact:
- Renovated 6 homes for disaster‑impacted residents, completing insulation, drywall installation, moisture barrier work, flooring, painting, and more. This included installing 95 sheets of drywall and placing insulation in 17 rooms.
- Removed 1,085 pounds of debris and trash from damaged homes.
- Carried 12,820 pounds of drywall into homes and laid 324 square feet of flooring.
- Prepared and served 316 meals for community volunteers working on recovery efforts.
- Supported 22 community volunteers living on the AHAH base by cleaning communal spaces, maintaining volunteer housing, and helping with vehicle upkeep.
More importantly, their efforts helped accelerate recovery projects that might otherwise have taken much longer to complete. By providing consistent, dedicated labor, Maple 1 helped ensure critical repairs moved forward efficiently while maintaining the attention to detail families deserve.
The team left with new skills and unforgettable experiences, but they also left behind something far more meaningful: homes that are safer, stronger, and closer to welcoming families back through their doors.
Members of Maple 1 shared that they were grateful to see the direct impact of their work on homeowners and the broader community. Their service supported the ongoing efforts of All Hands and Hearts and helped Western North Carolina residents affected by Hurricane Helene take important steps toward recovery.
While Maple 1 has moved on to its next assignment, their impact remains here—in repaired homes, strengthened communities, and the recovery journey that continues one family, one volunteer, and one project at a time.
Don't Stop Here
- Follow in the footsteps of Maple 1 and volunteer today!
- Donate to ensure this work continues.
- Read more about other AmeriCorps groups' contributions to our community here