SWANNANOA, N.C. (WGHP) — As western North Carolina continues to recover from the devastation left by Hurricane Helene, First Baptist Church of Swannanoa has become a vital center for relief efforts.
The church held its first Sunday service since the storm, but its mission has gone far beyond worship. It has turned into a major collection and distribution site, serving the surrounding storm-ravaged communities.
“God gives you strength when you need it, and I have certainly felt that over the past week,” said Jeff Dowdy, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Swannanoa.
After the hurricane swept through, the church became a hub for disaster relief. Many in the community have witnessed the destruction firsthand.
“It’s incredibly hard,” said Melody Dowdy, Jeff Dowdy’s wife. “It’s tough to see people you know personally who have lost their homes. Houses on our street next to the church are now on the other side of the road.”