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When Hurricane Helene struck Carter County, it took only minutes for the devastation to sweep through the community. Now, more than six months later, those who were impacted by the storm are still struggling to put their lives back together.

Disaster recovery comes in two phases: the sprint and the marathon. The sprint is the initial response to see that the emergency needs are met. After that, the community entered the marathon phase — the long and difficult struggle to try to get back to where their lives were the day before the storm.

The Long-Term Recovery Group was established with a group of volunteers and local community support organizations to try to help those residents still working to pick up the pieces of their lives and move forward.

A group of volunteers has organized a special benefit performance to raise money to support these recovery efforts in Carter County.

Knoxville Christian Arts Ministries will hold a special performance on Saturday, April 26, at 6:30 p.m. at Elizabethton High School.

“There are so many in our community in need of assistance, and we thought the performance by KnoxCAM would provide not only a way to raise money for recovery efforts but also provide the community with an uplifting performance which shares the gospel and God’s message of hope,” said Marcia Acuff, one of the volunteers coordinating the benefit.

Tickets to the performance are free, but volunteers will be accepting donations to help long-term recovery efforts in Carter County.

“All of the money raised will stay here in Carter County to help our people in need,” Acuff said.

Knoxville Christian Arts Ministries is a faith-based, multigenerational, community-wide outreach ministry of choral and instrumental musicians, handbell ringers, actors, dancers and more who desire to use their artistic gifts to proclaim the gospel of Christ beyond the walls of the church.

The performing troupe is composed of about 90 volunteers ranging in age from 18 to 90 and representing approximately 30 congregations in the Knoxville area.

“KnoxCAM is honored to serve our neighbors in Upper East Tennessee,” said Dr. Jill Lagerberg, KnoxCAM director. “We are praying that people will find hope and encouragement in our message that God’s love and working are steadfast, even in times of great tragedy, and that his ongoing provision will be affirmed through many generous gifts to the flood relief fund.”

Donations can also be made online at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/carter-county-benefit-concert.