Nonprofit gives back to veterans affected by Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee [Video]

NEWPORT, Tenn. — After devastating losses in the historic flooding caused by Hurricane Helene, many East Tennessee families are beginning to rebuild their lives. For several veterans, this recovery process is gaining momentum with the help of Operation Therapy, a nonprofit focused on supporting veterans through animal therapy.

Dallas Short, the organization’s executive director, recognized a pressing need in the community after the storm. He wanted to do more than just provide support for veterans — he wanted to make a lasting impact on their recovery.

“I said, ‘You know, I want to find one family, one veteran, someone we can help from start to finish, directly impacting them,’” Short said.

He found four families, including Alex and Brandon Welch, who lost everything in the storm. To …