Thousands of North Carolina residents look to local church for supplies, prayer: ‘People are broken’

October 2, 2024

A member of a North Carolina church helping distribute relief supplies in the wake of Hurricane Helene says the destruction has left the community broken but united.

The Christian Post reports that Senior Pastor Justin Alexander of the First Baptist Church of Hendersonville said that nearly 5,000 people had driven through the church’s parking lot to receive basic supplies and meals.

The church is located 25 miles south of Asheville which has been described as the epicenter of destruction from the storms which wiped entire communities off the map.

Kristi Brown is the executive director of Ascend Women’s Center in Asheville and was among roughly 100 volunteers distributing food, water and basic hygiene products to the thousands of people who sought help on Monday.

Brown said most people were in good spirits and tried to smile, but many were struggling with their losses and concern over the nearly 1,000 people who are still missing.

Brown stated, “I found when I would ask people to pray about stuff, they would tell me some things to pray about: their home, a missing loved one, whatever the need. But they all were saying, ‘I just don’t know what to do with this.'”

According to the Christian Post, Brown remains hopeful despite the widespread suffering and expressed gratitude for how the storm had united people.

Brown added, “I’m trying to find the blessings in this storm. This storm is bringing our community together in a way that I’ve not seen in a long time. I think nationwide, our community has been divided in this whole political season that we’re in. But now people are helping people.”

Photo: top, Credit: Sean Rayford/Getty Images