The Western North Carolina United Methodist Conference often has come to the aid of eastern North Carolina after hurricanes – but this time was different. After Hurricane Helene devastated the western side of the state, OUMC and other churches in the North Carolina Conference, as well as many Oriental residents, immediately began to gather supplies for those whose lives were upended.
Jim Kellenberger helped to lead an effort to gather needed supplies at Oriental Fire Station 19 on Oct. 9, Oct. 11 and Oct. 12, and congregants and the community responded well. Jim said more than 75 “flood buckets,” full of cleaning supplies, were collected, with 50 buckets coming from Village Hardware. Also gathered were about 150 hygiene kits and 75 feminine hygiene kits.
More than $7,000 in cash also was collected for relief efforts, including over $4,700 that was collected during the 2024 Ol’ Front Porch Music Festival.
All supplies went to the North Carolina United Methodist Conference’s Merci Center, which is north of Goldsboro, on Tuesday, Oct. 15, and eventually will go to Lake Junaluska for distribution by the Western Conference. Other items such as clothing were taken to western North Carolina by Ned Brodeur. Jim Kellenberger said this will not be the last effort to help our friends in western North Carolina. Be on the lookout for more opportunities to give relief items at Fire Station 19 or nearby.
