Rebuilding Hope: Terry & Mary's Helene Recovery Fund

On September 27, 2024 Hurricane Helene barreled through Western North Carolina without warning. Elderly couple, Terry and Mary Young of Avery County were rescued from rushing water by their neighbor Junior Singleton. Junior, 75, was able to get the couple to safety before their bridge was impassable. When Terry and Mary first got into the water, there was a utility trailer that they grabbed onto and held onto until it started to float away. They had their fingers down in the grates and they barely got their hands free when the water ripped the trailer away. They both had scrapes on their hands. Junior tried to throw them a rope, but they just couldn’t get it. That’s when he made the swift decision to go in after them. Junior went on to wade in chest deep water to rescue other neighbors as the Young’s home was destroyed by the flood waters.

When they were trying to get out, Terry picked up a box that had Mary’s mom’s obituary, death certificate, and roughly $4,000 cash that she had been saving. Mary’s mother passed away in March of 2024. She was saving to finish paying for her mom’s funeral expenses and tombstone. While Terry was carrying the box through the water a log came rushing toward him and hit him in the kneecap. He fell and went under the water. Mary was hysterical and was begging Jesus to please not take Terry from her. He was able to get up, but sadly lost the box in the process.

Terry and Mary, a kind loving couple have lost everything. Married for over 50 years, having lived on that property in the town known as Squirrel Creek for 20+ years, built their home with hard work and love, making it a sanctuary for their family and friends. After Hurricane Helene that home was unrecognizable and had to be demolished.

Terry 76, a US Army Vietnam Veteran, and Mary 74, his adoring wife, now find themselves in a situation they never imagined, without a home and with limited resources to start over. The floods have not only taken their home but also cherished memories; family photos, keepsakes, and decades of love woven into every corner. Rebuilding feels like an insurmountable challenge. Terry lost several medals that he had received while serving in the Army. His grandson found a couple of them in the aftermath.

We are reaching out to our community, friends, churches, businesses, and kind-hearted strangers to help Terry and Mary build their home and restore their sense of security. Every dollar raised will go toward building their new home.

We have a crew that is donating their time to build the home and an architect has drawn up the most perfect plans. We now just need the funds for the materials. Your support, no matter how small, can help give them hope and a chance to start anew. Let’s show them that they are not alone in this difficult time. Together, we can help them rebuild not just a house, but a home. There is always beauty in the destruction and triumph over tragedy.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and kindness.

Organized with so much love by Greg and Jenny Dae of KY, who have worked tirelessly to help Terry and Mary, but also others affected by the hurricane, with the assistance of Michael Isaacson of Kernersville, NC who has been boots on the ground from the beginning and April Knapp of Kernersville, NC along with many other angels that God has placed in this story. We know that God makes no mistakes with who He places in our lives and it is amazing to witness the way God works. Please follow along and look back for updates as we share more about Terry and Mary’s journey and the progress of rebuilding their life and home.

"We would also like to give special thanks to Kentucky Lake Cowboy Church. They have offered enormous help to Western North Carolina and Terry and Mary. We could not have done the things we have done without the prayers, love, and support of our church. Tony and Kelly Hughes have also been instrumental in this process as they were able to get the plans for the new home donated by an architect" - Greg and Jenny Dae

Any money donated above and beyond what is needed for Terry and Mary's home will be donated to rebuild the lives of as many others in Western North Carolina as possible!