Ellen ES Ceely

Dear Western North Carolina,

Once upon a time you welcomed a wide-eyed, heartbroken 20-year-old trying to find her way in the world with open arms. You took her broken heart and helped stitch it back together.

That 20-year-old, of course, was me.

I was looking for home, for a place to belong, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever find it. I’d already lost two homes, two places I loved, and my heart ached. But your looming mountains, crisp air, and changing seasons took me in.

I fell in love.

I spent four beautiful years in your mountains, learning what it meant to be an adult. The best thing about you is your people. They’re some of the kindest, strongest, most caring people I’ve ever met. Your people gave me the courage to become who I am today. They listened and helped and accepted me for who I am while encouraging me to become something more.

Whenever I felt lost, a walk in your woods brought me peace. Whenever I was lonely, a drive through your mountains with the windows rolled down brought me comfort. You held me in some of my darkest, most dysfunctional moments and never let hope die.

When the time came for me to leave, I was heartbroken all over again. But you’d built me up with enough strength to figure things out one step at a time. To figure things out with hope instead of despair.

Seven years later, you welcomed me back. Not to the mountains, but to your rolling hills. I came back out of necessity and found that love for you had never faded. Muscles I didn’t know I’d been clenching while living in Florida began to relax. Kindness from strangers became a regular thing again. Your seasons embraced me and I stared at you in awe.

I still do.

Now you’re suffering. I cry every day watching you, and the worst part is that my pain in watching isn’t even a fraction of the pain your people are experiencing. You kept my people safe. I’m lucky. But the storm was too much for you to keep everyone safe.

I just want you to know I love you. I know it’s going to take a long time to rebuild and recover. Please know as time wears on and people on the outside begin to forget, there are so many of us who won’t. We’re watching you. We’re doing what little we can. And we won’t stop.

Thanks for loving me and teaching me how to love again.

Ellen

Personal Plea

Hurricane Helene left a trail of the worst damage and devastation I’ve ever seen in Western North Carolina and surrounding states. My husband and I are doing what little we can to help. If you have the ability and would like to help, I’ve linked a couple organizations below that you can donate to. The people of Western North Carolina need your help and will need that help for many years to come. If you donate, please know how much I appreciate it and I know so many others appreciate it too.

If all you’re able to do is pray and keep the needs of people seen and heard, please know that’s also appreciated, needed, and important.

Thanks for reading.

JAARS: https://www.jaars.org/give/?fund-code=EMRLF

JAARS is currently helping fly in supplies to areas that are impossible to reach due to fallen trees, mudslides, and roads that have completely disappeared. JAARS is used to flying in rural areas and their pilots know how to find people, drop off supplies, etc. It’s my understanding that they’re receiving lots of supplies to bring in, but they also need money to help pay for the fuel to fly those supplies in.

Cajun Navy 2016: https://pinnaclesar.org/shop/donation/donate-to-cajun-navy/

The Cajun Navy 2016 is a group of volunteers who are experienced in helping during natural disasters. If you’ve seen the videos and articles about the mules that are trekking into the mountains to bring supplies, that’s these guys.

There are obviously a number of other organizations you can donate to. These two are just the ones I chose to highlight. Please donate to whichever organization you feel most comfortable with.