WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WV (WSLS 10) - People are still working to clean up the destruction left behind from last month's floods.
Monday, dozens of volunteers, many of them from out of state, chose to spend their 4th of July holiday serving others.
The volunteers have been delivering two hot meals a day to people, and helping to clean out houses of trash and debris, but on a day like the 4th of July, the volunteers being there might have sent a bigger message, that while everyone is celebrating, the victims aren't forgotten.
Wrecked homes still line the streets in White Sulphur Springs, a grim reminder of the flood less than two weeks ago.
"You're dealing with it every day, but everybody pulls together, we get through it. It takes time, it takes time and dedication and hard work, and everybody pulls together," said Gary Scitzs, whose house is one of 3 that survived out of the 11 that originally lined his street.
Many of his neighbors didn't survive the storm.
"Jimmy Scott and Rice Scott, of course their home burnt down. Ronny lost his wife Melinda, God bless him, and James and Beckly at the end, they lost their 3 children, they're still looking for their third daughter," said Scitzs.
But somehow, through all this tragedy, the American spirit was alive and well to welcome Independence Day.
"They've got flags flying around here you know, this is what it's all about," said Red Cross volunteers Becky Fitzpatrick.
Volunteers, most traveling hundreds of miles to be in White Sulphur Springs, are offering their strength and supplies to help get people like Scitzs back to normal.
"You're not looking for fireworks, you're looking for a wheelbarrow that they dropped off today, some shovels to help clean out your own garage, but also knowing that you still have some neighbors that you can fellowship with and say it's still a great country," said Sam Hearne, a Major with the Salvation Army.
A great country that brings people like Fitzpatrick all the way from Georgia to deliver two hot meals a day to victims.
"It's about the people of America. We're all one country and that's what it means to me. I'm a veteran myself, and they've even had the veterans RV down there helping the veterans so yeah it's great I love it," said Fitzpatrick.
Scitzs says while he has to look at the damage every time he returns to his ruined home, there is still hope in West Virginia.
"No time for sorrow, it's time to role up your sleeves and get to work," said Scitzs.
Even though she is from Georgia, Fitzpatrick calls the Red Cross's efforts in West Virginia just neighbors helping neighbors.
On Wednesday, Greenbrier county, the Red cross, and FEMA will be partnering to open a shelter for victims in Greenbrier County, where White Sulphur Springs is located, at Greenbrier East High School, starting at 8 am.