United Methodists Unite Against Thirst
In February of this year, McDowell County, West Virginia, was ravaged by what is being considered one of the worst floods the county has ever experienced. Roads and homes were flooded or destroyed, schools in the area closed, and people were unable to reach stores to obtain supplies.
The past couple of months have been difficult, but thanks to outside help from other counties in the two Virginias, McDowell County has hope. Even Bluefield has reached out with local churches creating water and supply drives to support the people of McDowell County.
McDowell County has had a history of flooding; however, after the most recent flood, many residents were shocked to find muddy, rust colored water pouring from their sinks. Even after running the water for 15 minutes the water spilling out still had visible sediments and contaminants. This disastrous circumstance puts a strain on families who now need to purchase bottled water to have a source of clean drinking water. This is where Trinity United Methodist Church and Bland Street United Methodist Church have stepped in.
For the past nine months, the two churches have come together to start a series of “water runs” in which church goers are encouraged to purchase cases of bottled water and leave them at the church after Sunday services. The water is then collected by volunteers and church leaders to be taken to Boyd’s Chapel and Jenkin Jones United Methodist Church. Then, volunteers from the local churches in McDowell collect and distribute bottles of water to residents.
“It started with an idea at a West Virginia conference with a resolution by pastor Brad Davis,“ said Pat Hayes, lay leader of Trinity United Methodist Church. “The resolution talked about the water and food problems in McDowell County. After reading that resolution we thought we live right beside McDowell County. We should be able to help somehow and some way through our church. (We) called Brad Davis, and when we asked what we could do to help, we were told they could use water.”
Both churches have been collecting water and, with the combined effort of the two churches, the water situation in McDowell is changing for the better. On top of the cases of water, both churches have been able to raise money and offerings to aid flood relief in McDowell County. Bland Street and Trinity United Methodist churches hope that not only will their efforts support flood relief, but also strengthen the connections and bonds between the churches and communities.
“The main thing is building the relationship with those folks,” Hayes said. “I mean the water is the easy part. The people of our two churches donate to the cause, and the ladies who raise money for missions have given us donations to help with the cost. The ministry has continued to blossom through God’s hand, but what we do is the easy part. The women who collect and distribute the water do all the heavy lifting.”
The monthly water drives have sent more than an estimated 15,000 individual bottles over the past nine months. Trinity United Methodist Church, Bland Street United Methodist Church, Jenkin Jones United Methodist Church, and Boyd’s Chapel have come together and demonstrated the importance of community and friendship not only between churches, but with one another.
“It takes passion to help folks and to want the best for them,“ Hayes added, ”and through our churches that, to me, is the best way to do it.”