Special Needs Adults Help When Hurricane Jeopardizes Harvest

Hurricanes can be devastating. People living in coastal regions have seen winds destroy homes and flood surges keep them from returning to their homes for days and even weeks. When Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida on September 26, 2024, it was at peak intensity. It quickly began tracking northerly. Helene's winds and rain reached North Carolina on the 27th and stalled, pouring copious amounts of water across the western part of the state. Two days of rainfall in the Asheville area reached a record-breaking 9.87 inches. Flooding and mudslides caused massive road closures and destroyed electrical and water systems.

"You train and put plans in place for emergencies," Alverta Bolick Home Administrator Stefanie Effler says, "but the widespread damage could never have been foreseen. Our caregivers took immediate action and began planning the evacuation of our residents."

Alverta Bolick Home in Asheville is one of nine Intellectual Developmental Disabilities (IDD) homes operated by Baptist Children's Homes (BCH). As the storm subsided, a safe route to leave Asheville was mapped out and the residents and care givers traveled to BCH's Broyhill Home in Clyde to shelter.

"It was pretty bad, real windy," IDD resident Rob says. "It was scary. I had never seen anything like it before."

In western North Carolina, buildings were washed away. Roads were gone. There was no water or electricity in most areas and, after the storm abated, there was no idea when power and water would be restored.

"We were impacted by the storm as so many others were," Stefanie recalls, "but our home was still standing. We were safe at Broyhill. Like others in the area, we decided to do what we could, volunteering and helping those hurting and suffering."

The men began helping to distribute supplies, volunteering at Dellwood Baptist Church and Woodland Baptist Church in Waynesville and at Stefanie's home church, Canton First Baptist. The churches had become hubs, distributing essentials to many who had lost so much during the hurricane. The men were great ambassadors, smiling and encouraging everyone. They took care bags with food and supplies to the vehicles lined up at the churches and loved petting the people's pets. They ate meals at the three churches with those affected by the storm, always leaving hearts lifted.

When Stefanie learned that 80-year-old Reverend Keith Clark and his wife Linda were in danger of losing part of their apple harvest, she asked the men if they would like to help. The couple had served as cottage parents at Broyhill Home in the early 70s.

Rev. Clark didn't like asking for help, but his apples needed to be harvested before a hard freeze hit in two days. The Alverta Bolick men joined the other volunteers from the community.

With everyone working, 41.5 bushels of apples were picked in the two days prior to the freeze and saved the harvest. Of all the apples picked, the Alverta Bolick men picked 16 bushels.

"We reached up and picked the apples right off the tree," Rob says. "We picked them and ate some, too. Apples are one of my favorite fruits."

Rev. Clark has cared for the orchard for 25 years. His great grandfather started growing apple trees in 1923. His grandfather became the orchard steward in 1930. His daddy oversaw the orchard when his father was unable to care for the orchard. He helped his daddy, remembering as a small boy picking apples. His daughter Susan and grandson help him now.

"I couldn't have got all the apples in myself," Rev. Clark says. "The volunteers and the men from the home have big hearts. It sure helped me."

After 22 days away from their home in Asheville, the men were able to return. There were 11 days without power and 20 days before running water was restored. A boil water advisory was in effect for another month after they returned.

It is humbling to see how the residents are willing to help others. They jump in and work hard. Helping people devastated by Hurricane Helene receive needed supplies or working in an orchard, the shared joy and freely given smiles are like balm, helping others with their loss.

Written by  Jim  Edminson, Editor of Charity & Children