Black Mountain Presbyterian shines bright in the darkness

Community rallies to provide comfort and essential goods

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
October 5, 2024

A community initiative based out of Black Mountain Presbyterian Church is feeding thousands of people in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, which devastated the region. Photo by Fred McCormick

While nearly everyone in Western N.C. struggled to comprehend what was next in the moments following the unfathomable devastation of Tropical Storm Helene, the answer came in the form of a simple question that greets visitors within the walls of a nearly century-old institution in the middle of Black Mountain.

The query — “Has everyone been fed?” — is presented silently to every person who has ever sought solace in the sanctuary of Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, but as the region was brought to its knees by the unthinkable, it rang out like a rallying cry to the entire community. If left to the dozens of dedicated volunteers working around the clock to procure and distribute critical supplies in their neighbors’ greatest time of need, the reply will be yes.

The phrase, which is derived from the story of the Last Judgment in the book of Matthew, is representative of the mission of the church, which opened its doors in 1908. The words are carved in a table facing the pews, which have served as a place of respite in the six days since the storm that claimed countless lives and displaced untold residents throttled the mountains.

“Two weeks ago, I preached on our new mission statement, which is a call to embody Christ’s love,” said Pastor Mary Katherine Robinson. “It’s been on that communion table for 25 years."

The same conviction haunted Nathan West in the brief moments of calm following the storm’s fury, even after he surveyed the damage to his family’s home. Anxiety, fueled by an overwhelming concern for family, friends and neighbors, prompted him to use limited available mobile phone service to look for help, outside of the region.

His effort ran concurrently with a similar plea posted on the Black Mountain Presbyterian social media page.

“Within 48 hours we had 500 cases of water, or more,” West said. The church received and stored the crucial supply. “Now we had to figure out how to get it out to people.”

His background in the insurance industry offered familiarity with the aftermath of mass casualty events.

“From what I had observed in the past, I knew what people were going to be feeling,” he said, fighting back emotions. “I knew that for our community, our kids, and the kids that could’ve been lost, we needed to do something, and quickly.”

The operation, which is now headquartered at the church, has already done much more. The distribution center’s vast inventory is organized and available to anyone seeking food or a wide range of essential goods. Volunteers, many of whom have been personally impacted by the disaster, are staffing the facility, according to Director of Youth, College and Young Adult Ministries Katie Duvall.

“We’ve had people from Atlanta, Florida, Virginia, Raleigh, Charlotte, Rock Hill and all over the place bringing in supplies,” she said. “It all started from a post on the church’s Facebook page that got shared a bunch times. Things really got moving from there, and we have so much stuff, it’s all over the church.”

Volunteers prepare hot meals in the parking lot at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church. The service, offered daily from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., has attracted thousands of area residents in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene. Photo by Fred McCormick

Black Mountain Presbyterian received generators, gas and propane. Snacks and drinks are stored in carefully labeled sections throughout the building.

“We have a snack station, dog food, cat food, health items, over-the-counter medicine and almost anything you can possibly think of,” Duvall said, as she walked hurriedly through the church. “The people have been so generous; it’s truly overwhelming and amazing.”

The operation, a collaborative effort between church members and non-members, continues to grow. Lines of people, who are otherwise unable to access basic necessities, wait patiently to have orders filled, while area residents reconnect with friends and neighbors they have been unable to contact since the storm.

In the church’s kitchen, workers busily prepare food, and wash utensils and cookware. Meal distribution, which runs daily from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., offers a sense normalcy and an opportunity for community fellowship. The line gets longer everyday, according to Duvall.

“The meal service started when Bounty & Soul came in trying to feed firefighters. We walked over to feed them that first day, and (Mac’s Burgers & Cheesesteaks) donated 50 pounds of ground beef,” she said. “We fed around 200 people that day, and since then we’ve seen thousands.”

While freshly prepared hot meals provide sustenance, local businesses like Dynamite Roasting Co., bring comfort to a community that awoke to a new reality the morning after Helene.

“It’s so nice to get a cup of Dynamite coffee,” a woman said, filling her cup beneath a tent in the church’s southern parking lot. Nearby, teams of volunteers prepare and distribute meals that include meat, bread, fruit and additional side items. People eat at tables arranged under tents, where residents and tired municipal workers enjoy a break from the stress of their new reality.

Dynamite Roasting Co. is one of several Swannanoa Valley businesses offering goods and services to area residents impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. Photo by Fred McCormick

“There are people who have told us they’ve been turned away seeking assistance from other places, so we’re going out of our way to welcome everyone,” Duvall said. “And, the support keeps coming.”

The needs of local residents are vast, and the church’s storage is limited in its ability to accommodate the influx of outside aid. Warehousing the goods was something Black Mountain business owner Allen Burpeau was more than happy to assist with. After seeing a social media post detailing the church’s efforts, he offered his warehouse to be used as a storage facility.

“I saw it, reached out to Nathan and he said that would be helpful,” he said. “We’re simply providing them the facility, and Nathan and his crew are handling the logistics.”

A vacant 3,000-square-foot section of his building is being converted to a kid-friendly gathering area.

“It’s not huge, but we plan to set up televisions, a batting cage and all kinds of activities, so kids here in the Valley can wake up in the morning and have somewhere to go,” Burpeau said. “We’re just trying to help however we can.”

The assistance from the Burpeau family has been instrumental in the relief efforts, according to Frank Cappelli, who is overseeing a team of volunteers at the warehouse.

“I think they have four generations of their family here, working all day, and they don’t stop,” Cappelli said. “Honestly, it’s inspiring to watch.”

Black Mountain business owner Allen Burpeau is among many local residents and business owners assisting in relief efforts, following Tropical Storm Helene. Burpeau's warehouse is being used to store supplies coming into Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, while approximately 3,000 square feet of the facility are being converted to provide kid-friendly activities. Photo by Fred McCormick

Multiple truckloads of supplies are coming to the warehouse each day, Cappelli said, while crews unload and arrange them into designated sections. The work typically begins around 8 a.m. each morning and ends well after 8 p.m.

“There are so many churches from outside of our region that are sending us trucks full of supplies,” he said. “We’re unloading dry goods and supplies constantly, but fortunately we have plenty of space here.”

Two-way radios sound off with constant chatter, as teams organize the storage facility and carry goods to anyone who shows up.

“We’re regularly coordinating with the folks at the church, so we can get them anything they need,” Cappelli said. “It’s only been a few days, but we already have a pretty organized system in place.”

The logistical operation is under the purview of West, who remains in constant contact with volunteers at both locations.

“It’s overwhelming and a blessing, all at the same time,” West said. “We’re getting these supplies out into the community. We’re loading up entire truck beds, and getting things out to locations that are operating community kitchens. We just coordinated with the Fairview Fire Department to get a generator out to a man, near the Black Mountain-Fairview border, with medical needs.”

The operation is primarily focused on deploying assistance to residents unable to flee the area.

“We know there are people who are trapped, and there are many more people who don’t have $1,000 in their bank accounts to run to Greenville or Charlotte and get an Airbnb or hotel room during all this,” West said. “Some don’t even have money to fill their gas tanks, and we want to make sure they have the things they need.”

Those supplies range from propane, food and other essential goods.

“We’re trying to support as many of these micro-communities as possible,” West said. “Since we’re all local, we know the places that need help, so getting it to them is a big part of what we’re doing here.”

Inside the church, West’s family is among the team of volunteers carefully unpacking and storing the steady stream of supplies that arrive throughout the day. Here, as high school athletes remain uncertain when or if they will return to the sports they love, the routine provides a sense of purpose.

“Everyone is struggling with something right now,” Duvall said. “But the generosity of people who are either donating supplies or coming in to volunteer is amazing. It’s exhausting work, but so rewarding.”

The giving spirit of the Swannanoa Valley was not dampened at all by the storm, according to Cappelli.

“This is what community is all about,” he said. “We live in a special place, and the response of so many people in the aftermath of this terrible event is just more evidence of it.”

The church is prepared to continue its operation for “as long as it’s needed,” according to the pastor.

“It evolves everyday, but nobody needs to have ownership,” Robinson said. “We want this to remain flexible, for the sake of serving this beautiful community that we all love.”