To all the unsung heroes after Helene

My heart goes out to those suffering in the areas of North Carolina and Tennessee where Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc. So many pictures illustrating life-changing damage in areas I've often visited throughout my life.

I have faith in those people. They're tough as nails and can endure things that would bring so many others to their knees. But they still hurt. They still miss the person swept away and now missing. They still hate to see their loved ones dealing with the pain of losing everything.

Their loss is gut-wrenching.

For those of us that are able to give, please reach out to your favorite charity that is helping our neighbors that happen to live out of shouting distance. In North Carolina, many towns are sending truckloads of items to help by way of volunteer fire departments, churches, and sheriff departments.

Larger organization such as the Red Cross, Samaritan's purse, United Way, and The Salvation Army are sending items as well. Even animal shelters have been assisting by moving pets to the Charlotte area as well as other locations to care for the homeless animals that had nowhere else to go for safety.

Please think about donating to a charity that you are comfortable with and honor those tough as nails neighbors.

"But for the grace of God, there I would be also.."