BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — First responders and non-profits in Watauga County in western North Carolina have always selflessly served their neighbors, but now after the flood waters from Helene have receded, a food pantry in Blowing Rock says it's the other way around.
FaithBridge United Methodist Church and its food pantry Casting Bread is one of the many organizations in town looking to recover after last week's flood waters. Outside of their pantry and church office, insulation, office chairs and carpet are piled up, ready to be thrown in the garbage.
After the middle fork of the New River flooded late last week, Senior Pastor Ben Carson said staff members had to gut the pantry, losing most of their food.
“The water level inside the food pantry itself was about three feet," said Carson. "All that's gonna have to be torn out, demoed. Hopefully, we get some construction crews in here pretty quickly to help rebuild it.”
Since the water receded, Casting Bread has had hundreds of donations by neighbors dropping off what they can, like David and Lucy Reed.
“Once that initial push right now with all of the support, when that goes away in a few weeks I’m just hoping that we can sustain those that are less fortunate, to not let them fall through the cracks,” said David Reed.
About 20 minutes away, the Cove Creek Volunteer Fire Department was tasked with helping set up an aid station. However, with that big of a task between accepting donations and running emergency calls, volunteers from the community and the Mountaineer Ruritan Club have offered their support to help run it.
“They needed a place to put all these items, and the items that have come in have been unreal. Our National Guard has been unreal," said Loyce Warren, standing beside Joy Creed and Katelyn Isaac who were also out collecting donations Friday afternoon. "They can't believe how quick we can unload a big National Guard truck. We have all hands on deck, and it's just been amazing with Cove Creek teachers, their kids -- just anyone that will work with us, they come in and help.”
After the storm, Katelyn Isaac had to move in with her mother, Joy, after losing power. Across Cove Creek, powerlines are still down, laying across the road and water.
"Things can be replaced, and this is the least we can do for our community and our kiddos," said Isaac. "I'm a school teacher at Cove Creek as well, and -- the teachers have shown up. They've helped us. And if we can give somebody a little light on a dark day, and most people come in here and just want to hug. So if we can show Jesus that way, that's what we're here for."
The volunteers at the aid station say they want to thank everyone who helped make the organizing of the project possible, including their county commissioner for the area.
Both stations said their biggest needs right now are cleaning supplies and canned goods.