The town of Chimney Rock, NC lies enveloped by dust, dirt and debris in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The river bank has become a canyon filled with the remains of the homes and businesses destroyed by the flooding.

Once a bustling tourist community, the town has been closed off to the public for the past eight months to rebuild.

Joan Schneider, a disaster relief volunteer with the organization Spokes of Hope, has been in Chimney Rock since the hurricane aiding the reconstruction efforts.

“I think the biggest thing that helps people heal is other people,” Schneider says.

As a chef for the volunteer workers and a key organizer of the reconstruction, Schneider has been invaluable to the restoration efforts. But the work she finds most valuable is connecting with the people of Chimney Rock.

Schneider has met almost every member of the community and through her work she has not just helped but has become a part of this small town’s community.

“There’s no politics, there’s no anger, there’s just love,” says Schneider.