The Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) Honors Scholars Program had finalized plans for the cultural excursion to Asheville just days before Hurricane Helene struck. However, after the storm devastated communities across Western North Carolina, the students knew they had to help. The group searched for an organization to aid in their efforts and voted to partner with the Community Housing Coalition (CHC) of Madison County. This nonprofit organization assists local homeowners in need of emergency home repairs. CHC coordinates volunteer groups with homeowners based on construction skill levels and other factors.
The LMU Honor Scholars were assigned to an elderly woman’s home in Marshall, North Carolina, which had suffered severe flood damage. A group of 15 volunteers, 13 students and two professors, traveled to Marshall from January 24 to 26 to assist with home repairs and disaster recovery efforts.
“We were eager to help as soon as possible, but hazardous conditions and washed-out roads delayed our trip until January,” said Dr. Sandra Weems, associate professor of English and director of the Honors Scholars Program. “In the meantime, we gathered supplies, including work gloves, contractor bags, disinfectants, and N95 masks, to bring with us.”
Upon arrival, the team began cleaning debris, performing demolition work, and organizing damaged areas to prepare the home for professional electricians. Their efforts filled an entire dumpster with debris, significantly improving conditions for the homeowner. As they left, the homeowner teared up and thanked them profusely for their help. On the second day, the group also assisted a local supply distribution center by unloading a tractor-trailer filled with donations that had been sitting untouched for weeks.
“Even as we worked, word spread through the community, and people began arriving to collect essential supplies,” said Weems. “We met families who had lost everything, including a couple seeking diapers and formula for their newborn and an elderly man whose home was completely washed away.”
In addition to their relief efforts, the group toured the storm damage with Dr. Ellen Holmes Pearson, a history professor at the University of North Carolina at Asheville and a resident of Marshall. She shared firsthand accounts of the hurricane’s impact and the community’s ongoing recovery. The visit ended with a tour of the Madison Arts Council building, where murals of local heroes stood as symbols of resilience and hope.
While the group’s contributions provided immediate aid, the LMU Honors Scholars felt most gratified by the task of unloading the truck, as residents had been waiting weeks for assistance to unload the much-needed supplies.
“Our time in Marshall reinforced the importance of showing up for those in need,” said Weems. “Though our work was a small part of the recovery, we’re honored to have been able to lend a hand.”
Lincoln Memorial University is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies. The main campus is in Harrogate, Tennessee. For more information about the undergraduate and graduate programs available at LMU, contact the Office of Admissions at 423-869-6280 or email at admissions@lmunet.edu.
