On The Ground In North Carolina
In late September 2024, Western North Carolina was hit hard by Hurricane Helene. As much as 31" of rain and wind gusts up to 106 mph pummeled the region leaving behind unimaginable destruction in its wake. At least 250 hurricane-related fatalities in the United States with 108 of them in North Carolina.
Immediately, locals began helping one another with volunteers and aid groups from all over the country also responding. While life is returning to the mountains and foothills, the road to recovery is a long one. Some of the largest groups have committed up to 3 years of work!
While still in the planning stages of organizational development, LaRoche and Co Missions responded to the call for help. For our family, the foothills and moutains of Western North Carolina are a 2nd home for us. We have many friends there and we travel there several times a year to visit and for ministry purposes. So naturally we felt the need to be a part of the recovery. What follows is a quick summary of our first 4 NC Recovery Mission Trips.
Trip #1 October 24-29 2024
Russ, Lori, and Grace made this initial trip to participate in the recovery efforts and to lay the groundwork for future trips. Originally, we intended to take a small trailer full of supplies. That quickly changed to a 20' UHaul truck packed full of donated clothes, diapers, hygiene items, food, chainsaws, winter hats/gloves/socks, blankets, and sound equipment! The donations came in fast and furious that we could not keep up with an accurate count. All we know is that truck was packed full of much needed items! We spent our first day driving around the mountain dropping off items and monetary gifts to various distribution sites in and around the Spruce Pine and Linville areas.
We then spent 2 days serving with Samaritans Purse. One day we worked out of the Boone site where our team traveled to Mountain City, TN to clear brush, cut down trees and haul the logs out of a ravine for a homeowner. While there, we were asked by the neighbor on each side to assist them as well, which we did. This led to the one neighbor giving his life to Jesus Christ! The 2nd day was spent at the Burnsville site where we were part of a large team doing a mud-out of 2 homes that had flood waters from the nearby creek rushing thru. Fortunately, everyone survived but it was a harrowing experience for them all. The mud-out involved hauling out all the debris and gutting the entire house to the studs to prepare it for mold remdiation before reconstruction.
Trip #2 November 20-24 2024
For this trip, all 5 of us went along with 3 friends. On this trip we began our relationship with MawMaw's Cheer by delivering donated clothes to one of their collection points. We also delivered non-perishable foods to another local group for their distribution outreach. In addition, we returned to Spruce Pine to deliver Buddy Heaters, chainsaws, stoves and electrical items to Mount Calvary Free Will Baptist Church for distribution. We also donated $2000 to Crosslink Church-Morganton to assist with a roof replacement on a home belonging to a Vietnam Vet.
Once again, our team partnered with Samariatan's Purse who has been doing great work in their home area. One friend referred to them as the "Mac Daddy" of relief work there. This time we worked out of the Asheville site. We spent a day doing a mud-out of a home which involved some of our team bucketing out mud from the basement. We also did demo work to gut the house down to the studs. Our efforts there resulted in the wife giving her life to Jesus! The other day was spent clearing debris and brush at a home up in the mountains. On both trips we were impressed with Samaritan's Purse--their ministry and their operations. This is what the specialize in all over the globe so it was a privilege to be a part of the team. We also worked alongside so many great volunteers who came together to make a great team of servants.
Trip # 3 March 15-21 2025
Russ & Lori returned with 3 other friends (2 of which we met the day we left--they were a great last minute addition). This was our first week-long trip and we organized our own projects in coordination with Crosslink Church-Morganton led by our friend Pastor Jonathan Reece. Pastor Jonathan and Russ work together with Real Love Ministries International.
We delivered more food, toiletries, spring clothes, and blankets to MawMaw's Cheer. We also helped them pack Easter Baskets. MawMaw's Cheer is focused on assisting children in need from 0-17 years old. Our construction work consisted of 2 days finishing the final stage of mud-out work at a house in Glen Alpine in preparation for mold remediation. We also tore down a portion of the exterior brick wall on the garage that was damaged and removed the garage door. For our last day of work, we returned to Linville EMC--one of the places we visited on our first trip. There we worked with a construction crew rebuilding the outside wheelchair ramp that was damaged by the flooding and clearing debris. The church experienced extensive damage to their sanctuary and they lost their fellowship hall.
Trip # 4 June 7-14 2025
For this trip, we partnered with our home church, Faith Country Chapel in New Castle PA. 10 volunteers joined Russ & Lori as we partnered this time with Adventures in Missions from their base in Black Mountain NC. We were split into 2 teams. "Team Jason" spent a few days installing doors, trim, and painting a house nearing completion of its rehab work. "Team John" spent the week making wall repairs, putting up insulation and drywall, and electrical work. They were joined by "Team Jason" for the final day. For the last 2 days, several women from our group volunteered with Mercy Chefs, a national organization that provides meals to people in need and volunteers in disaster relief areas. In addition, while working with "Team John", Russ connected with a neighbor (Alvin) and was able to arrange for Crosslink Church-Morganton to assist him with his electric bill. Later in the summer, Pathway Church from Chippewa PA (Sam's Church) came down for their regular mission trip with Crosslink Church. One of their projects involved returning to Alvin's house to repair damaged ductwork, replace flooring, repair his gravel driveway and install a new washing machine. This is a clear example of what it means to "Mobilize Missions Thru Relationships."
In addition to all the rehab and construction work, and the countless donated material goods, we were able to contribute over $8500 (not including numerous gift cards) to assist various individuals and ministry groups in their relief efforts.
We thank God for all the volunteers who served with us, who donated items and monetary gifts, and we prayed for our teams and for the people of North Carolina. It continues to be a blessing and a privilege for us to serve in Western North Carolina. God opened the door and we stepped thru it. We are so glad that we did. It has led to wonderful ministry and has broaden the vision for our young ministry.
We have 1 more trip planned for this year-- November-8-15 2025. You can find out more in this article, NC Recovery Mission Trip. Please prayerfully consider joining us. Also, be praying for us as we make plans for more trips in 2026.