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Aid for the Republic of Georgia - Asheville, NC- Hearts With Hands, Inc. has learned that over 100,000 people are homeless in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia due to the recent Russian conflict and ensuing invasion. Grace Baptist Church which is located in the capital city of Tbilisi, has sent money to Hearts With Hands on two occasions. The first donation was to be used for disaster relief in central Florida when tornadoes devastated the city of Lady Lake, FL and when Hurricane Ivan ravaged western North Carolina in 2004. According to Hearts with Hands executive director Bill Bradley, “The members of Grace Baptist Church shared their hearts with us when we needed help; now it is time for us to do the right thing and return the favor.”
Hearts with Hands will be collecting financial donations to pay for shipping which will be approximately $ 8,000 per container.
In an effort to help the victims of Hurricane Ike, we traveled hundreds of miles to reach our first destination of Groomes, Texas. Upon entering the parking lot of Val Verde  Baptist Church, we were met by our long time friend Greg Rife of Restore Ministries. After exchanging greetings Greg immediately began telling us of the hurricane damage near Port Arthur, Texas only a few miles down the road and the surrounding area. He stated that thousands of residents were without power and many of them had lost everything they had. He was also concerned for the many residents who had refused to leave since the recent Gustav evacuation and for the lack of evacuation from former Hurricane Rita evacuation in 2005. As we surveyed the 15,000 square foot “warehouse”, which had fallen to financial woes in becoming a gymnasium, we were made so grossly aware the few pallets of water, food, and disaster relief supplies already arranged neatly along the wall would not be enough to service the hundreds of victims who had nothing. We contacted our people in Asheville and advised them, to get the trucks moving.
While en route further west, we also received a call from our good friend Mr. Dave Henke from Marcus Pointe Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida stating that he had a friend in Hitchcock, Texas that might be able to help us. We met with Dave’s friend Rene Evgley and her wonderful family. These folk really deliver the principle of Christian hospitality to anyone they meet in need. Rene’s father, Daryl and Rene immediately pulled out their address books and manned their cell phones on our behalf while Rene’s mom made a fresh pot of coffee. In a matter of minutes contacts were made and we were leaving with the front seat accompaniment of a City of Hitchcock Police Officer, Jesse Gonzalez. We left Rene’s and headed toward Galveston Island.
Before we reached the island bridge, we began seeing shrimp trawlers, yachts, and a varied assortment of boats all along the roadway that gave credence to the theory that a marina must have in close proximity. Law enforcement officers from all over the state of Texas stood by manning roadblocks and questioning carloads of displaced Galvaston residents who wanted to return home. All the major television networks were anxiously waiting at the roadblock awaiting access to the islands, but for them, this too would have to wait since the media was not being allowed access to the island.
As we moved up in line a Texas State Trooper exchanged greetings, glanced inside the cab, saw Officer Gonzalez and motioned us through the road block. We entered two other road blocks and were cleared before gaining access to the island. As we crossed the bay bridge, the extra height gave us a better view of the devastation around us. Both sides of the highway were strewn with refrigerators, washers, mattresses, and tons of kelp. All signs that many of these victims would have their lives turned upside down for quite some time. We also noticed even more boats scattered over the roadway along with displaced cattle being fed by farmers who could do nothing to corral them at this time. As we proceeded down I-45 we could see the total devastation and about a five foot debris line along the fences and other items that managed to survive the surge.
As we preceded further inland into town, we could see a wall of debris on each side of the city streets. The path appeared to have been made by a Bobcat or similar piece of  excavating equipment. As we proceeded down one of the water covered streets, our tires made clanking sounds as we crossed downed power lines and other debris. We could hear eerie sounds as pieces of metal siding torn from the homes was twisting and squeaking in the wind. As we looked back down the abandoned street it was as if we were on the set of an old Western looking down main street of a ghost town.
As we travelled toward the east side of the island we noticed an extreme wall of debris which included building materials, insulation, and lots of home appliances. There was one problem, there was a twenty-foot sea wall on this side of the island. Where did the debris come from? Officer Gonzalez advised this debris had washed in from Jamaica Island on the other side of Galveston. We looked at the debris and saw the tremendous loss of property and asked God to be with these poor victims. We then proceeded off the island since there was no one to talk with. We met with the Chief of Police for the City of Bayou Vista and gave him an overview of what Hearts With Hands proposed to do to help. He readily gave us a parking lot to work from and his full cooperation.
Bayou Vista is a small town comprised primary of working class people who are really in need of our help. We are proposing to set up a limited distribution site for about two weeks to help the residents “get back on their feet.” We can supply straight from Asheville as well as from the Val Verde Warehouse in Groomes. We are asking our donors to please prayerfully consider a financial donation or hold a food drive for Hearts With Hands. As always, “with your hearts and our hands, we will continue to make a difference.” May God bless you for your generosity.
WORK BEGINS TO HELP ELDERLY COUPLE IN SOUTH BUNCOMBE -In the past few newsletters, I have mentioned an elderly couple in Arden who were living in a mobile home that was literally falling down around them. The article and pictures generated interest and to date we have collected about $700 to help with this project. Clayton Mobile Homes of Asheville has received a mobile home on trade and has agreed to donate it to Hearts With Hands. Billy’s Mobile Home Service has agreed to move it and set it up. Mr. Lawrence Henson of Henson’s Track Hoe Service,  is going to demolish and remove the old mobile home and clear the lot. We have talked with the Buncombe County Landfill and they have agreed to waive the fees for the landfill service. GDS Waste Disposal has furnished a dumpster.
Mr. Bill Kent with Clayton Homes will be assisting with plumbing and debris removal and we are thankful for George and Danny Bowman of Excavation Specialists of Weaverville, NC for use of a tractor-trailer to haul the debris. The electrician, Tim Wells of Wells Electrical is donating his services to handle the electrical work. Daryl and Terri Inman of Clyde have donated a heat pump system to ensure the mobile home is warm in the winter and is cool in the summer due to the health concerns of the couple. There has already been a tremendous outpouring of support for this project.
Work began this weekend! The couple’s family worked this past weekend and has managed to box up all the belongings the couple wanted to keep. It was awesome to see what was truly a “labor of love” as all of these family members pulled together to get the work done. The couple is no longer at home and thanks to the generosity of Willie and Julie Hendon of Brevard, they are staying a couple of weeks in a large rental home in Brevard until the work is completed.
Of course, we can always count on challenges from the Adversary. The couple's car began presenting problems and since they had several doctors appointments scheduled in Asheville next week, we had to rent a car. Of course, Enterprise Rental was more than willing to give us a great rate in lieu of the situation. Glenn and Tammy Dudas of Clearcreek Automotive have made the repairs to the car and have donated a portion of the labor.
School Supplies Delivered as Classes Resume on Monday - Savannah, TN – On February 5, a violent tornado destroyed the Sharon Baptist Church and Savannah Christian  Academy. The storm's fury left only cement foundations, twisted metal, and remnants of where the Christian school and church had once stood as the focal point in the lives of well over 200 children, administration, and membership of Sharon Baptist Church and Academy. As contingency plans had been laid and executed, Karen Hightower, principal of the school issued a plea for school supplies for the children so classes could resume in an alternate location. A plea in the form of an email to Hearts With Hands was received and in turn, the organization, issued an appeal to the residents of the area through its media sources for the supplies Hightower needed. Many schools, businesses, churches, and individuals assisted in the drive for supplies and on Saturday before classes were to reconvene, Hearts With Hands delivered over two tons of school supplies to the small town of Savannah, Tennessee. Carolina First Bank of Skyland donated a fax machine to aid in the efforts of school officials to reconstruct the infrastructure. Another concern was the fact that all of the school's computer equipment was completely destroyed. That need was taken care of promptly. Hewlett-Packard, in a gesture of compassion agreed to replace all of the school's HP computer equipment at no charge. Officials for the town of Savannah worked diligently to assist in the opening of the alternate sites donated by the Methodist church.
Hearts With Hands was able to play an important role in the effort as well. The team from Asheville was met by Dr. Jerry Spencer, Pastor of Sharon Baptist Church, Mrs. Karen Hightower, the school’s principal, and her husband Kent Hightower who is originally from Haywood County, NC. Several other church members and school officials assisted as well. Hearts With Hands is asking for collections of school supplies to continue so they can be replaced as they are used. “These supplies will keep the kids from having to buy them again and we will be able to get them [the students] started Monday,” Hightower stated as she began sorting through the boxes.
Hearts With Hands, Inc. Celebration A Huge Success - Asheville, NC - As one drove along Shelburne Road in west  Asheville you could see the set up of Hearts With Hands’ disaster relief equipment on parade in front of Trinity Baptist Church. In front of the sanctuary, you were welcomed by signage announcing the “15th Anniversary of Hearts With Hands.” The vestibule of Trinity Baptist Church boasted huge displays of photographs shot over the past fifteen years of Hearts With Hands responding near and far. Inside the sanctuary, there were display boards showing the responses of Hearts With Hands and reserved seats to be filled with dignitaries and others influential with the organizations success. Pastor Ralph Sexton, Jr., Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church and founder of Hearts With Hands, emceed the ceremony. Several “heart-wrenching” videos showing the assistance the organization had given over the years were shown on the church’s monitors.
During the service, several dignitaries made presentations. Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy presented a proclamation, Chairman of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, Nathan Ramsey presented a proclamation as well. Representative Bruce Goforth presented a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the North Carolina Speaker of the House and the North Carolina Legislature. Congressman Heath Shuler could not attend, however, he sent a Congressional Certificate of Appreciation and Senator Richard Burr and Senator Elizabeth Dole sent their best wishes and congratulations as well. Sheriff Van Duncan and City Councilman Carl Mumpower also attended. Buncombe County’s Director of Emergency Management, Jerry VeHaun received a standing ovation for his fifteen years of assistance to the agency.
 Dr. Sexton delivered the message then the congregation proceeded to the Family Life Center for lunch. An area was set up outside for the children which included face painting and inflatable rides. Officials stated the celebration was a huge success and it is “business as usual” as the agency monitors the flooding in the Midwest and hurricane activity near Texas and the possibility of a newly formed storm in the Atlantic.
Hearts With Hands, Inc. Provides Hay for Local Farmers - Asheville, NC - The recent drought conditions we have faced have caused significant loss of hay for farmers across Western North Carolina. Due to these conditions, Hearts With Hands, Inc. in a joint effort with Cngressman Heath Shuler began an effort to help with the crisis.
On Tuesday, August 7, Hearts With Hands, Inc. distributed hay to local farmers in need. Upon contacting the organization, farmers were instructed they could receive their hay at the Sandhill Road warehouse where donations had been secured. Executive Director Bill Bradley states, "We are thankful for Congressman Shuler's leadership in meeting the needs of the farmers of Western North Carolina. Hearts With Hands, Inc., its volunteers, and its donors are glad to partner with Congressman Shuler and the other leaders of our region to help!"
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