With Hurricane Helene’s drenching rains approaching, Tim McElyea was at his home in Asheville dealing with a case of COVID when he got a call asking if the veterans housing facility he runs in Western North Carolina, the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry’s (ABCCM) Veterans Restoration Quarters, could open as a shelter. He sprang into action to make it happen, but soon the shelter itself had to be evacuated.
The flooding just kept getting higher and higher and higher and then we got evacuation orders and the National Guard came in and we got everybody evacuated
The hurricane heavily damaged the Veterans Restoration Quarters, leaving the critical community resource inoperable. The 250-bed facility provides a comprehensive residential program for homeless veterans. ABCCM’s programs provide veterans with stability, personal skill-building education and training opportunities. The Veterans Restoration Quarters has 40 beds dedicated to transitional housing and 50 units of permanent supportive housing.
As the Chief Administrative Officer at the center and a combat veteran himself, McElyea was devastated when he surveyed the ABCCM a few days after the water receded.
“The place was really special for me and meant a lot to me and you know, it seemed a lot of guys come through there. A lot of veterans, a lot of veterans that we helped and when I walked through the first time I just went and sat down on the curb for about 20 minutes and cried because I didn’t know what else to do. After I got my faculty back together, I decided we're getting this back together. Let's go.”
That’s when Lowe’s stepped in, donating $750,000 in product and volunteer support to help bring the ABCCM back to life.
“When we heard there was a lot of yelling and jumping around and excitement and you know, happiness and praise because that was a big deal. I mean that was a really big deal for us so we were super, super excited and blessed.”
Lowe’s was connected to the organization by the company’s long-standing partner, Veterans Bridge Home.
“Total devastation,” said Michael Piper, sr. manager early and emerging talent and Air Force veteran. "We heard from our partners they could use our help. When we walked up, I wasn’t expecting that level of destruction – the water level, four inches of mud, everyone’s belongings in the street... it was the moment I knew Lowe’s had to step up.”
Lowe’s has also committed DIY expert volunteers and much-needed products to support ABCCM’s work to rebuild the facility. In honor of Veterans Day, Lowe’s red and camo vest volunteers will serve breakfast and share fellowship with veterans at the organization’s temporary facility.
“Supporting safe and affordable spaces for veterans, like ABCCM, is critical because it comprises so much of an individual’s social, economic and well-being,” Piper said. “When I think about the suicide rate of veterans, having a safe place to live is so important to succeeding after your military career.”
At the time the storm came through, there were 200 veterans living at the shelter – many lost everything in the flood.
“They don't have a lot to start with, so you know, losing the few things that they have, of course, was really traumatic so we’re trying to help them get as much stuff back as they could, replenishing them with new stuff, clothes and items that they lost,” McElyea said.
They’re also hoping to all be back under one roof soon and grateful for all the community support- especially from Lowe’s- that is coming together to make that happen.
“Lowe’s has been wonderful. It means a tremendous amount. To know that there's there are companies out there that you know are patriotic and proud of America and the people that's made sacrifices for it, that means that means so much to so many people. Just to have you guys to step up in the way that you stepped up, you can’t put it into words. It's just amazing. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. It means so much. You have blessed so many people through what you've done.”
