MORRISTOWN — “When we step out of the way, God can really do something,” said Don Owen, director of God’s Warehouse Ministries at the Nolachucky Baptist Association.
Owen’s words seemed evident at an exciting celebration on March 28 when God’s Warehouse in Morristown accepted a $75,000 grant to support their ongoing East Tennessee disaster relief efforts.
The grant came from Mountain Ways Foundation, a nonprofit focused on disaster relief in the Appalachian region. The funds initially came from country music icon Dolly Parton and her businesses last October.
Checks were donated on site at God’s Warehouse in Morristown on March 28. From left are, Don Owen, representing God’s Warehouse; George Bowser, representing the Johnson County Long-Term Recovery Committee; and Lori Moore, representing Mountain Ways.
“In the last few years, we’ve been developing this foundation and then something like this happens in our backyard,” said Lori Moore, executive director of the Mountain Ways, talking about the devastation of Hurricane Helene last September. “This is our time to step up. I really think sometimes that’s what God wants you to do — step out in faith and say, ‘I’m here.’”
The first initiative within Mountain Ways was to assist those who had a 100% total loss of their home, Moore explained.
The nonprofit has now distributed over $2.5 million in disaster relief funds across eight counties in Tennessee and seven in Western North Carolina — where the hurricane hit the hardest.
Their efforts include providing $5,000 grants to those who lost their homes completely, helping with essentials like car payments and groceries.
Owen admitted he previously struggled with grant applications, but through Dr. Linda Rothery’s persistence in writing the grant to Mountains Ways, the warehouse successfully received funding.
“God’s people have been so generous with their donations,” said Rothery, Nolachucky Disaster Relief Liaison Officer. “Many foundations have funding available — you just need to tell them your needs and ask. And the needs here are still great.”
According to Owen, the warehouse has distributed $34.6 million worth of products, with more than 100 volunteers working daily at peak times to process and redistribute incoming supplies.
It’s been instrumental in disaster relief efforts, providing resources, equipment, and volunteers to rebuild bridges, roads, and homes.
A single bridge can cost between $6,000 and $10,000 to rebuild, according to Rothery. For this, Mountain Ways also donated more than $233,000 to the Johnson County Long-Term Recovery Committee for road and bridge construction.
The committee coordinates different agencies to establish relationships and communication channels, according to vice chairman George Bowser, who understands the impact of a hurricane from his upbringing in Florida.
But the recovery efforts face challenges with coordinating various organizations and volunteers while ensuring all affected residents’ needs are met.
“Our goal is to identify every damaged home in the county,” Bowser said. “We know about 75 were completely washed away, and another 225 had their taxes reduced by the assessor due to damage. We’re still identifying more affected homes.”
Once they locate people in need, the committee works with partners, like God’s Warehouse, to determine who can address each situation, whether by bringing in equipment, acquiring building materials, or coordinating volunteers arriving from across the country.
“Once we identify people in need, we work with our partners to see who can fulfill that need, whether it’s bringing in heavy equipment or acquiring building materials,” Bowser explained.
God’s Warehouse Ministries’ use of heavy equipment and specialized skills has been led by Dale Moles, director of swift water rescue and the road and bridge crew. Moles has also donated considerable heavy equipment for the ministry.
“So far, we’ve been the only people with heavy equipment. It’s been challenging, and we’re exhausted,” Rothery said with a slight laugh.
Owen added, “I don’t know of any piece of equipment Dale can’t operate. There hasn’t been anything we’ve asked him to do that he couldn’t accomplish skillfully.”
By late March, God’s Warehouse Ministries had completed over 56 road-related projects, including a 70-foot bridge reconstruction in Johnson County.
“God has provided for our every need,” Owen added. “Working together, God has blessed us, and we’re seeing people’s lives changed as they return to their homes.”
Bowser reflected, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for. My faith has gone down, not up — because now I don’t hope, I expect. The Lord has done so much, and all we have to do is be a conduit and let Him work through us.” B&R
