Two years ago on Sunday, Sept. 27, McDowell County and the rest of western North Carolina faced the worst natural disaster within the past 100 years as Hurricane Helene ravaged the mountains and left many people homeless.
On the second anniversary of Hurricane Helene, N.C. Baptists on Mission held a dedication ceremony for the new Marion Rebuild Center, a facility that will serve as a hub for the organization’s continuing rebuild work in western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. Sunday’s event ended with the raising of a huge American flag on the tall pole in front of what is now the Marion Rebuild Center for N.C. Baptists on Mission. A crew brought out the big flag and carefully hoisted it up.
People are also reading…
Warehouse Manager Dale Ballew led tours of the complex. He led a tour through the large building which used to be the repair facility for RVs and campers. It is now a warehouse that stores building materials, lumber, doors, plumbing supplies and anything else needed to construct a new home for someone displaced because of Helene. There are mobile shower units for males and females and Ballew showed the tour group one of them.
Warehouse Manager Dale Ballew led tours of the complex. He led a tour through the large building which used to be the repair facility for RVs and campers. It is now a warehouse that stores building materials, lumber, doors, plumbing supplies and anything else needed to construct a new home for someone displaced because of Helene.
Warehouse Manager Dale Ballew led tours of the complex. He led a tour through the large building which used to be the repair facility for RVs and campers. It is now a warehouse that stores building materials, lumber, doors, plumbing supplies and anything else needed to construct a new home for someone displaced because of Helene.
The organization has tiny homes that can provide a displaced person or persons with a temporary place to live. It comes complete with heating and air conditioning and a place to sleep and cook food. Although it is small, Warehouse Manager Dale Ballew said it is a welcome sight for someone living in a tent or less.
Warehouse Manager Dale Ballew led tours of the complex. This facility will also be a hub for managing rebuild projects, storing and distributing building materials to all of Baptists on Mission’s rebuild sites in western North Carolina. Because of the warehouse space, the organization will be able to receive donated building materials as well as purchase building material in bulk at a considerable discount.
This facility will also be a hub for managing rebuild projects, storing and distributing building materials to all of Baptists on Mission’s rebuild sites in western North Carolina. Because of the warehouse space, the organization will be able to receive donated building materials as well as purchase building material in bulk at a considerable discount.
Sunday’s rebuild dedication culminated with a ceremony held in the big pavilion where so many events took place in previous years. The pavilion has a sign that dedicates the open-air venue to the late Tom Johnson, who founded the RV dealership and had the complex built. Richard Brunson, executive director of Baptists on Mission, welcomed all those who attended.
County Commission Chairman Tony Brown talked about how the organization has made a great difference in national disasters, as well as ones here in our community.
McDowell Emergency Services Director Will Kehler said a representative from Baptists on Mission came to his office before Helene struck and promised to provide help for what they knew was coming. He added within hours and days after Helene hit, the volunteers with the organization, many of whom wore their distinctive yellow shirts, came forward to offer their assistance just like the representative said they would.
Jerry Lewis, pastor of Grace Community Church, has worked alongside McDowell Emergency Services Director Will Kehler in Helene recovery efforts. He said a prayer during the dedication ceremony.
The crowd was comprised of volunteers and members of various churches, all of whom are working to rebuild homes in western North Carolina.
Sharon Decker is the senior adviser for long-term recovery for the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC). She talked about the recovery efforts which started two years ago and are still ongoing.
Sunday’s event ended with the raising of a huge American flag on the tall pole in front of what is now the Marion Rebuild Center for N.C. Baptists on Mission.
A crew brought out the big flag and carefully hoisted it up the tall pole.
