Randolph residents donate to Upshur flood relief
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ELKINS -- Local churches and businesses in Elkins are working to gather donations for Upshur County after the area was ravaged by destructive floodwaters Tuesday night.
Since Wednesday morning, the First Baptist Church of Elkins has become a collection point for flood relief donations that are being sent to the West Virginia Wesleyan College distribution center on the college’s campus in Buckhannon.
Rev. Brett Rinehart of the First Baptist Church of Elkins said the church is working with the Randolph County Office of Emergency Management, Randolph County officials and Upshur County officials, and has received several donations from local residents, businesses, banks and other church organizations. Church volunteers have seen vehicles pull up with back seats and trunks full of supplies to donate.
“This is our second box trailer full of supplies,” Rinehart told The Inter-Mountain Thursday. “We had one that we filled up yesterday and it went out this morning, delivered this morning, and this one will probably go tomorrow morning once we get it completely filled up.”
Rinehart said that, as of Thursday afternoon, the church would not be accepting more donations. He explained that he was going to talk to officials and see what is still needed, or if anything has changed. When asked what kind of donations they would be looking for if the church were to continue being a collection point, Rinehart said they had been accepting nonperishable food items, cleaning supplies, water, bleach, basic necessities items and hygiene items.
Beyond collecting and transporting donations, the First Baptist Church of Elkins helped provide a spaghetti dinner and deserts to first responders Wednesday in Upshur County. Rinehart noted that the Buckhannon Church of the Nazarene, which has been opened as a flood shelter, would be making dinner for the first responders Thursday night.
“I’m just really grateful for our town and for support we have from so many wonderful people here,” Rinehart said.
The Inter-Mountain photo by Megan Ingraham
A variety of donations received by Elkins Auto are being packed into a truck bed and will go to Buckhannon to help those affected by the flood.
At the same time, Elkins Auto, which includes Elkins Fordland and Elkins Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, has begun taking flood relief donations at their locations on the Beverly Pike. Fordland representative Susie Reckart-Martin explained that these donations will be part of the Ford company’s “Load Up for Common Good” initiative on a local community level.
“We’re taking donations of money, water, bleach, anything that anybody can donate for the cause,” Martin told The Inter-Mountain Thursday. “We will be meeting with someone tomorrow about where we’re dropping (donations) off, but if anybody has any type of donations or anything at all, drop it by. We’re filling up the back of the truck.”
Martin displayed some donations already dropped off, including water, food, cleaning supplies, pet food and supplies and more. She also added that they have already received a “substantial” monetary donation and that employees of Elkins Auto plan to bring in items as well.
Elkins Auto will be collecting donations for about two weeks. Donations can be dropped off at either the Elkins Fordland or the Elkins Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram locations.