by Glenn Maddox

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“This is where my family has always lived, and we don’t want to live anywhere else.”  

That was the sentiment Mary shared with the Disaster Response leaders who arrived to assess the damage in her home after Hurricane Helene. What they found was a tiny cinder block home with basic plumbing and very few amenities. By most assessments, of the roughly 70 homes volunteers have helped restore to this point, this home was one of a few that could have been torn down. But she was adamant that she would only leave if they promised to repair it instead of tearing it down. In the past several weeks, volunteers have gutted the home, rebuilt the interior, replaced the roof, and rewired the house. The one upgrade she was willing to accept was a water heater, which the team gladly installed.  

One of the biggest challenges that communities face after a disaster is that the rest of the world moves on, but the community is still living in the aftermath. As we enter 2025, the response to Hurricane Helene in Southwest Virginia continues, and we started the new year with a big team infusing new life into the community. Baptist Collegiate Ministry teams from several schools joined other volunteers to serve during the first week of the new year. The work continues to focus on rebuilding homes that have already been cleaned, but with new homes still being identified—and some homes having most work complete—they were able to divide into teams for cleanup, rebuilding, and delivery of new appliances at homes that have already been repaired.

Local volunteers continue to be the backbone of the response, with volunteers from across the state serving alongside them—some having served two, three, or more times. People whose homes seemed beyond repair have slowly been able to return, finding those homes in even better condition than they were before the storm. As the site reopened after the break at Christmas, plans were already in place to serve through at least Easter, with a few young adult and youth opportunities in the planning stages for late spring and summer. This work has been possible because so many volunteers from across Virginia have committed to serving long term, and the work in Southwest Virginia will continue as long as there is need.

For more information about BGAV Disaster Response and to donate, visit https://impactmissionsmovement.org/disaster-response/what-we-do/

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