Brian Hobson
Sports@mitchellnews.com
Hurricane Helene left Mitchell County ravaged, but plenty of volunteers from across the nation have offered their assistance to help rebuild what was lost.
One core problem, though, is how to coordinate the volunteers and get them to the places they can help most. This is where the Volunteer Resource Center fills the gap.
Stephanie Pitman, director of the Volunteer Resource Center, has the daunting task of routing all the volunteers to the places they can help most. Stephanie had been helping at the Mitchell Middle School distribution center when a “couple of Texas ladies” asked if she would be willing to take on the mantle of VRC Director.
Pitman says that a lot of the work involves “ do[ing] intakes, and matching skills and training with people in need.” The VRC also sends volunteers to distribution and pod (warehouse) sites, because as Stephanie says, “They need hands to do that”.
The VRC has staff assisting Pitman, including Brodie Miller, known for his commentary on Mitchell Mountaineer sports, who is the coordinator for the distribution sites. Also assisting are specialists like Whitney Buchanan whose outreach section coordinates with people in hard-to-reach areas via ATV, and Kelly Jones, who has the difficult task of coordinating meals.
Over the past two weeks alone, 264 individuals and groups have offered their assistance and have been assessed for what areas they could help best. One heartwarming story Pitman shared was when an elderly woman requested help moving things out of her flooded basement. The VRC paired her up with a young lady who drove an hour and a half to help, only to find herself unable to find the address she was assigned to. The elderly woman came down to the VRC, worried about her helper, and finally met her and worked together to get her basement completed.
“They talked the whole time, exchanged phone numbers and became friends!” Pitman said.
Pitman actively encourages people to get what they need and volunteer if they can.
“People need to not be afraid to get what they need,” she said. “Nobody should feel bad about any of that. It’ll help empty [the distribution centers] and free up space.”
As for volunteering, Pitman had this encouragement for people who are able: “Just volunteer if you have time. All of these sites need volunteers, it’s not a sprint, it’s a long haul.”
The current VRC distribution sites are below.
Spruce Pine - Deyton Elementary School
Ledger - Bear Creek Baptist Church
Bakersville - Bowman Middle School
Buladean - Buladean Community Center
These sites are open Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for both volunteers and those requesting assistance. If you can’t make it in, call 828-660-0818 or email VolunteerMitchell@gmail.com.