Hurrican Disaster Recover - You Are Answering the Call

October 23, 2024

YOU ARE ANSWERING THE CALL

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, our church came together in extraordinary ways to support those affected by the devastation. With UMCOR warehouses depleted, they put out an urgent call for help. Our Global Outreach committee responded by assembling 100 flood buckets filled with essential cleaning supplies to help families begin the recovery process.

Our Messy Church families joined the effort, creating 40 additional buckets, giving our youngest disciples the opportunity to give back and experience the joy of making a difference firsthand. These 140 flood buckets were delivered and will have a lasting impact on those in need. Your giving made this possible!

In what became a true community project working alongside Williamsburg businesses in New Town, residents from Governors Land, Fords Colony, & Kingsmill, and the Elf Patrol organization, our Youth Families collected and sorted 180 new blankets, 35 bags of coats, over 40 bags of warm winter clothes, and raised $2,700 to take to Boone UMC, a church that has been serving as a hub for relief efforts. Last week, the Roy family personally delivered many of these items. While there, they spent the weekend sorting deliveries and loading four truckloads of wood, as supplies were airlifted into areas still inaccessible by foot. More trips are being planned, so please reach out if you’d like to help.

Reflecting on the experience, Michelle Roy shared:

"We witnessed businesses stepping up, neighbors supporting neighbors, and a sense of unity that can only be described as God’s hand at work. There’s a spirit of love and support that moves through these communities like a river, bringing life and hope wherever it flows.

Today, I had the chance to spend time with my girls helping sort supplies. We met a man who was picking up clothes and blankets for those who are now homeless up in the hills. As he was leaving with his supplies, he stopped and said, "One last thing before I go”...and then proceeded to pray for us. For me and my girls who have a home to go back to.

In the midst of all the Hurricane victims are enduring so many were choosing love, kindness, and were constantly thanking God for all they had. I believe it’s in these moments that He shows us how to truly love one another. He moves among us, not only in the big miracles but in the small acts of kindness that ripple through our communities.

It's a beautiful reminder that faith isn't just something we carry in our hearts—it’s something we put into action. From the warm smiles at local businesses in Blowing Rock to the helping hands at the church, I've been reminded of how God works through us, and how He calls us to be there for one another.

There’s a beauty in this shared humanity, and there’s a grace in knowing that no matter what, we are never alone.” ~ Michelle Roy, WUMC Member

Through these collective efforts—whether it was filling flood buckets, donating to UMCOR, gathering donations, or serving on the ground in Boone—our church demonstrated how faith in action can bring hope and healing in times of crisis.

Together, we continue to make a difference and live out God’s calling to love and serve one another. It’s your generosity, your willingness to give, and your commitment to our shared mission that makes all of this possible.

Tags: mission, service, global outreach, mission work

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