Spartanburg Native Leads Community Recovery Efforts After Devastating Storm

Spartanburg Native Helping Out Local Community After Storm

Returning home to help communities battle their way back to normalcy following devastating storms is a noble deed. Enter Adeline Wolfe, an Asheville resident, who hails originally from Spartanburg. Today, she is making a significant difference in the lives of people affected by the recent storm. As a devoted staff member of the renowned non-profit, Mountain Housing Opportunities (MHO), which focuses primarily on developing and enhancing housing for low-income individuals, Adeline has seized the opportunity to give back to the community.

Joining Forces with Local Libraries

Adeline has teamed up with her longtime friend and mentor, Todd Stephens, who currently holds the position of County Librarian. Their plan involves the county libraries collecting much-needed supplies. These supplies will later be distributed to struggling families and individuals in Asheville by Wolfe and her team at MHO.

Confidently stating the importance of unity in such challenging times, Wolfe shared, “I think, if anything, disasters like this kind of illuminate the fact that we all need each other, and we can all take care of each other as we come together in times like this.” Gallon-size drinking water, easily prepared food, cleaning and hygiene supplies, and diapers of all sizes are among the most needed items now.

A Community Effort

The plan also includes distributing donations to other aid providers, such as Beloved Asheville and the United Way. The Spartanburg County library branches invite locals to drop their donations off at the circulation desks, with the exception of the Cyrill-Westside branch, which is currently closed. It’s imperative to note that the libraries operate under limited hours this week.

Libraries: A Beacon of Hope After the Storm

Libraries, especially the Headquarters Library in downtown Spartanburg, played an essential role immediately after the storm. Thanks to a substation connection, the library quickly regained power and reopened just two days after the storm on Sept. 30. Limited library opening hours offered residents a safe place to charge their devices, read books to their children, and, most importantly, connect with their fellow community members. Unsurprisingly, the first day after reopening saw an impressive surge of visitors and unique Wi-Fi users, marking a significant step towards resilience.

Duke Energy Offers Aid via Library

Throughout this week, Duke Energy made its presence at the Headquarters library lobby, offering snacks, resources, and representatives to listen to and address Spartanburg customers’ concerns. Raven Thompson, a Senior Stakeholder Engagement Manager with Duke Energy, acknowledged the disruption caused by the hurricane and expressed the company’s commitment to aid their customers.

Despite the storm’s destructive aftermath, the unity, resilience, and mutual assistance highlighted in these times of crisis remind us of our innate human ability to overcome any adversity. Adeline Wolfe, her team at MHO, and Todd Stephens with his library fortune are vivid examples of this potential for collective resilience.