By Kristen Thomason
When members of First Baptist Church, Rome, Ga., saw the devastation from Hurricane Helene, they knew they needed to act. The Missions Committee, headed by Julie McCormick, decided on a multi-pronged approach to meet the needs of those impacted by the storm.
“We wanted to respond in as many ways as we could,” she said.
Partnering with CBF Disaster Response allowed them to be the presence of Christ to people miles away in Tryon, N.C. Pastor Jeff Harris at First Baptist Tryon witnessed the devastation from Hurricane Helene firsthand.
“There was horrific flooding along the Pacolet and Green Rivers. Both rivers have a steep gradient dropping off the Blue Ridge escarpment, so the water was incredibly powerful,” he said. “The flooding on the Pacolet River is only three miles from our church.”
As soon as they were able, FBC Tryon members began to help neighbors and friends who had lost homes and businesses.
“Many in our congregation already serve in our communities, so it was natural for us to serve, and the community already has some level of trust with our congregation,” Harris shared.
While FBC Tryon prepared meals and distributed water to residents of Tryon, the missions committee at FBC Rome provided financial support to the CBF Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund. Contributions to the fund allow CBF Disaster Response to work efficiently and effectively when disaster strikes.
“A monetary gift is always helpful and can be used for what is most needed,” Harris said. “And if money is used to buy supplies or even pay for labor in our communities, then it has a double impact.”
Individuals who would like to contribute to CBF Disaster Response can do so as a one-time gift or as a recurring monthly donation.
Another way FBC Rome helped those in need after Hurricane Helene was by purchasing personal water filters for $10 each on the CBF website. Flooding, such as that in Tryon, can damage wells and cause contamination of well water. Personal water filters ensure that people already grappling with the aftermath of the hurricane do not also become ill from drinking contaminated water.
Now that the flood waters have receded, residents in Tryon are confronting the mud and debris left behind. To help them with the cleanup and recovery process, FBC Rome assembled CBF Disaster Response Cleanup Buckets for the members of FBC Tryon to hand out in their community.
These cleanup kits are modeled on those distributed by disaster response agencies such as UMCOR (United Methodists) and Church World Service. Each five-gallon bucket contains useful supplies such as cleaning products, gloves, masks and trash bags. A list of specific items is available on the CBF website.
Pastor Harris says the kits are making a difference in Tryon.
“The buckets are a great way to give a variety of items to someone in need. Some folks are reluctant to tell you what they need or to receive items, but most folks are willing to accept a bucket. It’s also helpful for teams to use when working with houses that have been flooded.”
To prepare the cleanup buckets, the Missions Committee at FBC Rome purchased the required cleaning supplies and organized them on tables around a room in the church. “We then had those who wished to assemble just pick up a bucket and circle the room, filling it with all the items needed,” McCormick said.
The youth group joined the adults in the assembly process. “They loved it, and we actually had so much help from youth and adults that we finished in about 15 minutes with filling the buckets!” Later, church members Troy and Susan Fitzpatrick delivered the CBF Disaster Response Cleanup Buckets to FBC Tryon.
“The number of congregations and individuals from outside our region that are helping is encouraging,” said Harris. “We are so grateful for the love, prayers and generosity.”
Congregations who would like to participate in this undertaking should contact CBF Disaster Response at DR@cbf.net . Harris encourages everyone to join CBF in helping communities recovering from Hurricane Helene.
“There is a tremendous need. So many people in western N.C. have been devastated, and the scale is so large. It’s going to take years to recover. Please don’t forget about us.”
Your gifts to CBF Disaster Response help change lives and make stories of hope like this possible. Please give generously at www.cbf.net/hurricane-relief.