Thank you for your outpouring of support in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence! We are grateful for you. As we recover, we continue to pray for everyone throughout the Carolinas who has felt this storm's devastating impact.
Here are our latest updates:
Children and Caregivers Are Home
We are excited to announce that the boys, girls and caregivers who were evacuated to our Mills Home campus in Thomasville have all returned to their original BCH locations. The children and staff from Odum Home in Pembroke, Cameron Boys Camp in Moore County, Camp Duncan in Aberdeen and Kennedy Home in Kinston are all safely home. While there are recovery projects underway at BCH's locations impacted by the storm, it has been determined that conditions are safe. They are happy to be home.
Damage Updates
Kennedy Home: BCH's Kinston campus was the hardest hit of all locations. Power was restored Wednesday evening. Crews have been on campus cleaning and assessing losses which are substantial. There are many repairs that will need to be made at the various buildings and the perishable food, all lost during the power outage, needs replenishing. McNeill Home: An initial assessment of McNeill Home, BCH's cottage at Indian Beach, shows some damage within the cottage as well as the dock. Mills Home: BCH's Thomasville campus is continuing to recover from the trees that fell hitting two of the buildings. Other trees in danger of falling are having to be taken down as well. Professional and volunteer crews have been on the campus assisting with the clean up of limbs and debris scattered throughout the grounds. Other Eastern Locations: We are thankful to report there is minimal damage at Odum Home, Cameron Boys Camp and Camp Duncan.
Three Ways You Can Help
1) PRAY:
We need prayer warriors lifting up our children, families and caregivers. Pray for the crews helping with recovery at our locations. And continue to pray for disaster recovery teams across the Carolinas and victims of this horrific storm.
2) VOLUNTEER: Friends of Children: Friends of Children workdays at Kennedy Home in Kinston and Odum Home in Pembroke are scheduled for Saturday, September 29 and volunteers are needed at both locations. Kennedy Home's workday was moved from its original date of September 15 to September 29 because of the timing of the storm. Friends of Children is an all-ages workday providing a local mission opportunity for groups, families and individuals to assist with a variety of projects. Please take a moment to register so we can best accommodate you and all of our incredible volunteers. Visit www.bchfamily.org/foc to register.
Skilled Volunteers:
We also need skilled volunteers (tree removal, electrical, plumbing, etc.) ages 18 and older to help with projects on other days. If you can help, contact Sam Barefoot at 336-474-1224 or svbarefoot@bchfamily.org
3) DONATE:
If you would like to help, please donate by clicking on GIVE NOW and choose “Hurricane Relief” from the “Direct my Gift” menu. You can also contact Brenda Gray at 336-689-4442 or bbgray@bchfamily.org.
Thank you for your support and for being faithful friends of Baptist Children's Homes!