WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) – On the anniversary of Hurricane Helene, the Washington County Long-Term Recovery Group organized a memorial service to commemorate the storm’s impact.

Jeremy Dykes, chair of the Long-Term Recovery Group’s Spiritual and Emotional Committee, said his family was quick to help the community.

“When Helene struck, my wife and I set up a distribution center in our yard right on the farm across this field. We distributed various items to those in need,” Dykes shared.

The event serves both as a memorial for the losses during Hurricane Helene and a celebration of Washington County’s progress and future hopes.

“We’ve named this event ‘The Reflection Gives Way to Hope,'” Dykes commented, “and tonight we’re focusing on the lasting hope, the hope we find in God.”

Howard Smith is also a part of the Spiritual and Emotional Committee and helped organize the memorial.

“We wanted to remind folks, ‘We’re still here, we haven’t forgotten,’ and there’s still a strong desire to help,” Smith noted. “Many people are still in need of assistance.”

Shane Broyles made food deliveries and also helped build a house after Helene. He said he has watched the community come together to help each other.

“Throughout, people were united,” Broyles observed. “You can see God’s work in all of this. It strengthened community bonds when it was needed most.”

Marty Johnson, District 2 Commissioner for Washington County, said while it is great to see where Washington County is now, the work is not done.

“To think of where we were one year ago today and where we are today is absolutely amazing,” Johnson said. “It’s amazing who we are after one year, but we’re not done.”

Washington County Mayor Joe Grandy said he hopes that, going forward, people will still remember the impact the storm made while also regaining some normalcy in their lives.

“This is about looking forward,” Grandy said about the memorial. “This is about the hope that’s coming and the thanks for all the people that came together to get us where we are today.”