West Asheville, NC (SYP) – July 12 – 17, 2026

A group of 15 weekly volunteers from IN graced us with their hard work and their sense of fun and laughter in whatever they did.  Their sounds of laughter resonated throughout the dining room as well as on the job sites.   

The repair and renovation job at Mr. Lee’s house was completed.  Mr. Lee, a 6-tour veteran of the Vietnam War, visited the house several times and posed for photos with some of the volunteers. 

Many items were checked off the punch list at the house on Lake James, and the job card was signed there as well.   

Large groups, sometimes as many as 3 different crews, all worked together at the former nursing home facility in Black Mountain.  Their efforts meant that the job card could be signed.  The building will house future volunteers. 

Our construction supervisor was hoping to start a new house project on Monday, but approximately 5 inches of rain set that project back a day.  Footers were dug and concrete poured.  Now the site is ready for laying a block stem wall. 

At the Graham house in Marion, drywall was removed before the new could go up throughout the house.  A former professional drywaller and a weekly volunteer headed up that job as a crew leader. 

Monday morning’s rain caused quite a problem as rainwater leaked into the barn roof over the office, and the computer keyboard was “floating” in water.  A hairdryer was used to dry out the computer and thankfully it came back to life.  By Wednesday the scanner and printer were once again operational.   

On Wednesday evening the McDowell County Emergency Management Coordinator showed a video and spoke of the immediate response to Hurricane Helene in the county.  It’s difficult to grasp the intensity of the storm. 

On Thursday we had a change of venue for our evening meal.  Everyone enjoyed a picnic at the Mountain Gateway Historical Park in Old Fort.  Crew leader David grilled hamburgers, and we had delicious potato salad, coleslaw, and baked beans to accompany the burgers.  Watermelon and fresh cookies rounded out the meal.  We ate in an old stone amphitheater by a peaceful stream (which was flooded by Hurricane Helene.)  

Each evening crew leaders presented a worthy winner, a golden hammer award for a task or attitude that seemed deserving.  On the final evening of the week, the weekly volunteers presented the awards to the leadership volunteers.  The presentations brought a sense of appreciation for everyone’s efforts through the workdays. 

For all of us in West Asheville, 

Edith, Rex, Dave, Bruce and Kathy, David and Frances, Patrice, Bob, Sovilla and Anita