Once, they shared tips on stroller-friendly trails and child-friendly spots. Now, they’re banding together to help one another.

In the rugged terrain of western North Carolina, among the areas significantly affected by Hurricane Helene, mothers are demonstrating what they do best: looking after each other. Community Facebook groups, once bustling with leisure activities and exchanges of children’s items, are now overflowing with mothers eager to lend a hand, even as they face hardships themselves.

They are trading essential items like baby formula and wipes. They’re offering children’s books and toys for free. There are even cribs, mattresses, and meals being shared. One mom even made the generous gesture of offering her frozen breast milk.

Kate Patterson, a mother of two small kids, has been going from house to house, checking on residents in remote areas since the storm passed.

“I think this is typical of many moms,” she notes. Having resided in Boone, located in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, since 2002, she adds, “When you see a need, you respond. There’s no time for hesitation. You just spring into action.”

The community of mothers in the mountains is close-knit. They support one another.

In the mountainous regions of North Carolina, mothers form a strong yet dispersed community. Social media serves as their connection point, enabling them to exchange homeschooling advice and items for their children, as well as to share details about family-friendly weekend events.

On a typical weekday at The Children’s Playhouse in Boone, children and their caregivers are bustling about with name tags on. At this indoor play area, one might see a nanny reconnecting with a toddler she used to care for, or a mother balancing her laptop while watching over her daughter.

“In general, moms in this community actively reach out to offer help and create an inclusive atmosphere,” states Amy Forrester, who has lived in Boone since 1997 when she came for school and decided to stay. Forrester, a mother of two, has spent about a decade teaching fifth grade and is now the owner of fizzEd Boone, a family restaurant and bar in the downtown area.

“When the disaster struck, our network of moms sprang into action immediately.”

Overall, Forrester feels fortunate. They’ve only had to boil their water for three days, but their home and business remain intact. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for many others.

Forrester became a member of High Country Moms—a private Facebook group with nearly 4,000 members—more than ten years ago, primarily to give away her children’s outdated toys and clothing.

Today, she finds herself in that group offering free meals to those who need it, no strings attached. Many have accepted her generous offer.

“We share a strong bond, and I believe we embrace each other for who we are, doing our utmost to assist,” she expresses during a call from her restaurant, where, amid inquiries, she helps a friend gather charcoal for a neighbor who needs it for cooking without electricity. “In a small town, maintaining those connections is crucial because these are the people you’ll interact with frequently.”

‘Nurturing the next generation of compassionate parents’

Halee Hartley has spent her entire life—33 years—in Boone. While she’s not a mother, she is the owner and director of Kid Cove, a childcare facility with three locations in the area. She is well-connected within the parenting community.

A dedicated member of the local Facebook group, she reflects, “Before the hurricane, posts were filled with things like, ‘I have baby boy clothes for ages 0-3 months. Is anyone interested?’ or ‘Here are family-friendly events happening this Saturday in Watauga County.'” Now, the tone of the posts has shifted to more serious matters.

“In the last five days, I’ve seen moms posting requests like, ‘Can anyone check on this person on this road?’ or ‘Please help get in touch with this individual?'” she shares. “In moments like these, you see 40 or 50 moms responding quickly with ‘Yes, we’ll send help,’ or tagging someone who can assist. It’s a whole network of mothers coming together to provide aid.”

Hartley announces her intention to launch a temporary program at Kid Cove – akin to a summer camp – catering to school-aged kids as many local elementary schools remain closed due to damage.

In the midst of the chaos, Hartley has witnessed heartwarming instances of families banding together. She remembers a young girl, around 2 years old, who joyfully helped load a truck with supplies, cheerfully lifting each white container one by one.

“It’s really about these mothers inspiring their children to observe the helpers while also becoming helpers themselves,” she explains. “They are nurturing the next generation of generous moms and dads.”

‘We just step in and assist’

The kindness displayed by the mothers in Boone may appear noteworthy to outsiders. However, for locals, it comes as no surprise.

“When we notice other mothers in need, we just instinctively reach out,” Patterson shares. “We ask, ‘What can we do? Do you need diapers? Or formula?'”

Despite the upheaval caused by Helene, the moms have come together like never before. Hartley believes their community will become even closer as they start to fully comprehend the extent of the destruction.

<p”No matter what happens, she asserts, mountain moms will always support one another.

“You’ll witness strengths in individuals you never realized were there. You’ll see communities displaying strengths you never imagined,” she comments. “That will be truly remarkable to witness. It already is.”