Hurricane Matthew caused severe flooding across eastern North Carolina, as far inland as Edgecombe County. Ms. Maggie was one of the many homeowners whose home was damaged by the hurricane.
The damage from Hurricane Matthew caused the home to be unsafe to live in. Ms. Maggie had to leave her home and belongings behind. Three years later, Maggie was finally able to move back home again.
Family members, friends, and volunteers gathered to celebrate Maggie’s return home. The Tarboro Disaster Recovery Site Manager, Rev. Jason DuVall, opened with prayer and a scripture reading from Revelations. Another scripture reading from Matthew was read by a volunteer from World Renew Disaster Response Services.
A member of Lake Gaston UMC presented the family with a handmade cross. The cross was made of oak to “represent the love we have for God and Jesus,” basket-weave to represent the weave that binds us to God, rope that “represents our salvation when we are lost”, and a flower to “represent those who helped others in times of need and peril.”
Rev. DuVall stated Maggie’s return home was a “symbol of God’s love and care, a symbol of community.” Volunteers from across the country and a variety of denominations came together to help the family return home.
Ms. Maggie thanked all of the volunteers who selflessly gave their time to help someone they did not know who was in need.