When the river jumped its banks and the bridge disappeared, neighbors didn’t wait for permission—they built a way in. Our year-end Hometown Hero countdown brings together the most downloaded stories of service after Hurricane Helene and beyond, revealing how small acts stacked into a regional lifeline. From a Navy veteran who turned church donations into the Appalachian Navy’s propane lifeline, to an interim fire chief leading his department through storm recovery and a devastating substation fire, these moments show what courage looks like at street level.

We revisit Lynn and Mark in Batcave, who lost their vintage shop and turned the parking lot into a disaster relief hub with showers, tents, and a steady flow of volunteers. We sit with Ashley and Isaac, volunteer firefighters who organized life above a broken bridge, cutting mountain roads so medicine and groceries could reach 140 neighbors. Faith-driven efforts shine too: Spokes of Hope “became local to the local,” moving from freezers and food to construction support, while Michael Brown’s family opened their barn so Amish crews with Great Needs Ministry could build 175 tiny homes for families without shelter.

Service also looks like quiet discipline. Meet Mike, who arrives at First Baptist between two and three in the morning to prepare a sanctuary that welcomes a waking town. And celebrate East Henderson basketball’s 27-game win streak and invitation to the United World Games, proof that teamwork and grit ripple far beyond the court. We close with Helene Rising’s story—a family road trip home with chainsaws that turned into a year of driveways cleared, materials delivered, and dignified help across Appalachia.

If you’re searching for a roadmap to real recovery, you’ll find it here: start where you stand, pair volunteers with local leaders, keep the footprint light, and never underestimate the power of one open door. Subscribe, share these stories with a friend, and leave a review to help more neighbors find the help—and hope—they need.