Feel-Good Friday: The Resurrection of Western North Carolina Is an Example of America at Its Finest

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After the late September devastation in Western North Carolina from Hurricane Helene and the heroic rescue and recovery efforts, the region continues to be given a shot in the arm, thanks to Americans locally and from across the country stepping up. This past month has seen the creative and innovative ways they have helped to bring this area and its people back to life. 

This week’s Feel-Good Friday spotlights the particularly awesome ones!

On Saturday, The Concert for Carolinas was held at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte,NC. The event attendance was over 82,000, and featured performances by James Taylor, Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow, Billy Strings, Bailey Zimmerman, Scotty McCreery, Chase Rice, The Avett Brothers and Parmalee, with some surprise appearances by Urban’s wife, actress Nicole Kidman and a cameo by Randy Travis, who is recovering from a debilitating stroke that he suffered earlier in 2024. North Carolina natives Luke Combs and Eric Church organized this in less than a month, and it raised $24.5 million toward hurricane relief. 

The really smart move: Combs and Church designated the recipients of the charity would be North Carolina-based institutions, not just those name charities that put three-quarters of their operating budgets toward executive salaries, while one-quarter actually goes toward relief.

All proceeds will be split between nonprofits supported by Combs and Church, and include the Chief Cares Fund, Samaritan’s Purse, Manna Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina and Eblen Charities.

 But here’s the beauty of this story. The Bank of America Stadium, which is the home of the Carolina Panthers, was

donated, free of charge by Panthers owner David Tepper. So every penny raised will go to those charities providing recovery and assistance to the people affected. 

Here’s a cool sports story…

Luke Combs grew up in North Carolina as a Panthers fan, so after Hurricane Helene, he organized a charity concert at Bank of America Stadium to raise money.

But rather than charging Combs the standard rate, Panthers owner David Tepper donated… pic.twitter.com/ZvDhN29p5d

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) October 30, 2024

Here’s a cool sports story… 

Luke Combs grew up in North Carolina as a Panthers fan, so after Hurricane Helene, he organized a charity concert at Bank of America Stadium to raise money. But rather than charging Combs the standard rate, Panthers owner David Tepper donated everything. 

Tepper let Combs use the venue for free. He didn’t keep any of the parking, merchandise, food, or beer money. He also paid the salaries of all the employees who worked the event and even covered 100% of the tax bill. 

The result? It was the largest concert in stadium history, with over 82,000 people showing up to donate $25 million. 

And since Tepper paid for everything, every single dollar that was raised went to hurricane victims.

While Church and Combs wanted to raise awareness and much-needed funds, they also wanted to cement in people’s minds that the community coming together will be what rebuilds North Carolina:

“The biggest thing for Luke and I, the most important part, is that we continue to shine a light on this,” Church said before the show. “The most powerful thing we have in this is people that want to stay in their community. That’s how we rebuild the community. These people are going to need help long after tonight, and long after next month, and long after six months.” 

No place in the mountainous regions and the Appalachians needed a bigger hand up than Chimney Rock. The devastation was difficult to see, but even more critical: the entire road leading into Chimney Rock to Bat Cave was completely destroyed. Residents were told they could not go back to their homes, FEMA did not even bother to attempt rescue or aid, and North Carolina’s Department of Transportation estimated it would take a year to rebuild the road.

Enter some coal miners from West Virginia, who built a serviceable road through Chimney Rock to Bat Cave in three days.

WATCH:

A look at some of the damage that remains in Chimney Rock, North Carolina, one month after Hurricane Helene. pic.twitter.com/iGvUswjPQt

— AccuWeather (@accuweather) October 30, 2024

Blue-collar workers prevailed over bureaucracy in Hurricane Helene-ravaged North Carolina by rebuilding a highway at breakneck speed on their own terms – allowing residents to finally return home.

Coal miners from West Virginia – whom locals have lovingly dubbed the “West Virginia Boys” – moved a mountain in just three days to reopen a 2.7-mile stretch of Highway 64 between Bat Cave and Chimney Rock washed away by Helene.

Chimney Rock residents who fled the hurricane one month ago will now be able to return home for the first time within a few days, months earlier than they expected. 

“The river swallowed the road, so I haven’t been home since the hurricane,” Robin Phillips, 49, told The Post.

This drone footage captures the strip miners road-testing their handiwork.

WATCH:

This is now a part of American history🇺🇸

The BADASS Strip Miners of WV knew lives were at stake, so they did the impossible ❤️

Ben McHone just caught this drone footage of the strip miners testing the new road they built re-connecting Chimney Rock to Bat Cave. Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/vDb7FKlosY

— FoxyFarmer🦊🇺🇸 (@GardensR4Health) October 31, 2024

Here’s more drone footage showing the length of completed road.

An aerial view of the road built by West Virginia citizens in Chimney Rock North Carolina pic.twitter.com/f0DIrmCMz4

— Frank Fighting For Freedom 🇺🇸 (@thinktankfranks) October 31, 2024

This feat by the West Virginia strip miners is nothing short of a miracle and an example of American ingenuity at its finest. It’s also an example of what can occur when you don’t have bureaucrats and bean counters trying to solve problems.

And one last ray of good news is coming from the battleground state of Pennsylvania. Not only are the Amish voting for Trump, but busloads of their carpenters have come to the Black Mountain area in Western NC to rebuild homes. While the post says 56, it is actually 56 BUSLOADS of Amish workers who took the over-eight hour ride to help restore a sense of home for their fellow citizens:

56 Amish workers are helping in Western North Carolina with victims of Helene. They are in search of a base camp close to Black Mountain. They are bringing their own supplies to build “Cabins for Christ”.

This is the America I love! People coming together from all walks of life… pic.twitter.com/aHRyi7ATTk

— Nashville Angela (@angelanashtn) October 31, 2024

56 Amish workers are helping in Western North Carolina with victims of Helene. They are in search of a base camp close to Black Mountain. They are bringing their own supplies to build “Cabins for Christ”.  This is the America I love! People coming together from all walks of life and helping one another.

The Amish plan to stay until the job is done, and from the posts on X, their lodging is being arranged. Another beautiful example of community at work!

Winter is moving in fast to this region and there is still much work to be done, as Western North Carolina rebuilds. They will need our help, charity, and prayers for a good while longer. But when Americans put our minds and hearts toward helping our neighbor, there is no limit to what can be envisioned and what can be accomplished.