Mission Project Documentary
Building Stronger Foundations in WNC
A 5-year mission to restore homes and transform lives in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
Dear Friends,
The road to recovery after Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina (WNC) in early fall 2024 is long and hard. First Presbyterian and the Piedmont Area Presbyterians (formerly Charlottesville Area Presbyterians) of Central Virginia have the chance to play a pivotal role for one family, Ryan, and Deena Edwards, and for others for years beyond. We will be joined by our partner, University Presbyterian Church of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, as we build a new home for the Edward’s family this spring and summer. Our multi-year commitment to this devastated region will present us with future opportunities to renovate existing homes damaged in the storm, clean up storm debris, strengthen community relationships and make life substantially better for families in WNC. With grace and humility, we can bear active witness to the deep compassion of God in Jesus Christ.
Ryan and Deena Edwards
As a first step in our recovery efforts, the First Pres Christian Outreach Committee and Session present the 2025 WNC Mission Recovery Project. This is a collaboration with local Presbyterian churches, community organizations in Western North Carolina, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), and the G-5 Collective of Old Fort, North Carolina. It marks the beginning of a five-year commitment to building, renovating, and restoring homes for families affected by Hurricane Helene throughout Western North Carolina.
At the heart of our mission is the story of Ryan and Deena Edwards of Old Fort, NC. When Hurricane Helene’s floodwaters breached their home—blasting through walls and forcing it off the foundation—the Edwards family was left with an uninhabitable home. Ryan, who serves as the maintenance director at Presbyterian Camp Grier, demonstrated exceptional commitment during the crisis by working sixty consecutive days to provide essential services to local residents during storm relief.
With the support of local McDowell County and other recovery funds, along with the assistance of the Old Fort Strong Fund and generous contributions from family and community, Ryan and Deena are now poised to rebuild their family home.
The Edwards house project is just the beginning of a five-year recovery initiative in Western North Carolina. Inspired by the lives changed post-Hurricane Katrina efforts, the First Pres Christian Outreach Committee—working with local agencies, ministries, and churches affiliated with the Piedmont Area Presbyterians—is committed in 2025 to providing safe, simple, dry, warm, and stable housing for those affected by Hurricane Helene. Our larger vision is to come alongside effected families, businesses, and communities in Western North Carolina, and provide lifelines of Christ-like support, in meaningful ways for five years.
Launching in spring 2025 and continuing through the end of 2029, this initiative leverages the energy and skills of volunteers and Presbyterian Churches from both North Carolina and Virginia. Our initial financial commitment includes $25,000 from the Mission & Benevolence Endowment’s income fund, with a total of $125,000 pledged over the next five years. Future rebuilding projects will be funded through partnerships with local non-profits, community groups, government agencies, Piedmont Area Presbyterian Churches, and generous member contributions. University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill has already added a generous grant of $25,000 to the effort in 2025.
Mission Project Update
This multi-year mission project deserves energy and support to ensure continued work and commitment in a heavily damaged area of our country.
Over the last two weeks in May, two mission construction teams worked to build a new home for Ryan and Deena Edwards in Old Fort, North Carolina, to replace a home that was destroyed by flooding created by Hurricane Helene in September 2024. The work was undertaken as a mutual partnership between First Presbyterian, Charlottesville, and University Presbyterian, Chapel Hill, NC. The first team, led by D. Forney was composed of eleven volunteers, five from Charlottesville, five from Chapel Hill, and one from California. This team framed the walls of the 960 sq. ft. house and built a large front porch deck in week of beautiful weather.
The second team, led by J. Sanderford, was composed of twelve volunteers, five from Charlottesville, four from Chapel Hill, two from Maryland and one from California. The second team erected the roof trusses, applied the plywood roof deck, built interior walls and poured the concrete footings for the front porch. In addition, the second team was able to help the adjoining neighbors; first building a large storage shed for one and power-washing the exterior of the home of another. Both teams were housed at Camp Grier, a Presbyterian camp and conference center, located nearby. Both teams enjoyed hard work, robust fellowship and a shared spirit of compassion for our North Carolina neighbors.
Work will now turn to Austin Edwards and Bloom Construction to complete the front porch, exteriors steps and other carpentry tasks. Then, their subcontractors including plumbing, electrical, heating, cooling and ventilation, roofing, insulation and other skilled trades-- will carry the project to completion, along with some assistance from First Pres, University Pres, and other volunteers. Plans for return volunteer trips for painting, exterior staining, fence building and other tasks are being developed for summer 2025 with a completion date of September 1, 2025.
The Edwards house is projected to cost about $215,000. Of that the Edwards family has secured a $100,000 mortgage while First Pres Charlottesville and University Pres in Chapel Hill have contributed $80,000 in grants, leaving a gap of about $35,000 to raise. Fund development to raise these funds is presently underway. Adam Barber, Communications Director for First Pres, is developing a video documentary on this project.
It is my hope and recommendation that the Christian Outreach Committee, and the First Pres Charlottesville Session, appoint a First Pres Mission Liaison and steering team that would include other partners such as University Presbyterian of Chapel Hill, NC.
Jay Sanderford
Associate Pastor
First Presbyterian Church Charlottesville
