Featured Service Project: Rebuilding Community

In September 2024, Barnardsville, North Carolina, was devastated by the impact of Hurricane Helene. This tight-knit town of roughly 600 people suffered significant losses: Homes were destroyed, roads and bridges crumbled, access to food was limited and community gathering places were inaccessible. 

In October 2025, just one year after the storm, Travelers partnered with the disaster-relief nonprofit All Hands & Hearts to help this small rural community heal. Nearly 60 volunteers from our Charlotte, North Carolina, and Knoxville, Tennessee, offices joined business leaders to repair homes and properties, restore a historic schoolhouse and trail system in the Big Ivy Historical Park, distribute food to families in need and begin to rebuild the home of one Barnardsville resident.

Community benefits

• Investing in home repairs after natural disasters is crucial for communities because it enables families to return to safe, stable housing. It also prevents further property deterioration and neighborhood decline, supports local economic recovery by keeping residents in the area and employing local contractors, reduces long-term displacement costs and helps restore community cohesion.
• Investing in food security strengthens communities by improving public health outcomes, reducing health care costs, supporting local economic development through partnerships with regional farmers and food producers, and providing access to nutritious foods that enhance educational performance and workforce productivity. It also helps build social connections through shared meals and food education initiatives.
• Families and children benefit from access to recreational and learning spaces that contribute to their overall physical and mental health.

Travelers benefits

• Through their volunteer efforts in service of our communities, employees were also able to further develop their team-building and networking skills.
• In addition to the positive impact on communities, these partnerships benefit Travelers by driving stability and security in the places where we operate.