KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Walking into the home of Van and Frances Ford, visitors are offered a firm handshake, a bottle of water and a warm, "how are you?"

“There’s not been one person in here that has not been wonderful. Everyone of them has done everything in the world they can do, and they’ve done a lot,” Van Ford said.

After historic flooding tied to Hurricane Helene ruined their homestead along the Pigeon River, the Fords described feeling confused about what to do and where to turn. But when the couple opened the door to accept help rebuilding, an army of volunteers pulled shift after shift for the last 12 months to restore their house floor to ceiling, add new furniture inside and a new ramp and stairs outside.

“It’s the people of East Tennessee,” Van Ford said. He said seeing his fel

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