Lending A Helping Hand
Area Man Headed To North Carolina For Rescue And Recovery Work
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- Kevin Weaver, right, is pictured in West Virginia doing work with Missions of Helping Hands. Weaver leaves Sunday to help following Hurricane Helene.
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- Kevin Weaver is pictured while in Wilmington, North Carolina. He is going to be headed back to North Carolina on Sunday to help following Hurricane Helene.
Kevin Weaver, right, is pictured in West Virginia doing work with Missions of Helping Hands. Weaver leaves Sunday to help following Hurricane Helene.
The director of a Brocton hands-on ministry is heading to North Carolina to help with rescue and recovery efforts.
Kevin Weaver is the director of Missions of Helping Hands. He’s been involved with the religious organization for more than 15 years.
In the past, members of Missions of Helping Hands have participated in various service missions trips, including Maryland, Columbia, South Carolina and Texas.
“Normally we go and rebuild. This year I’m getting right in the down and dirty search and rescue,” Weaver said during a phone interview.
Weaver will be working in North Carolina with Baptists On Mission to do disaster relief.
Kevin Weaver is pictured while in Wilmington, North Carolina. He is going to be headed back to North Carolina on Sunday to help following Hurricane Helene.
He will be driving a diesel pick-up truck rented by his employer Upstate Niagara. The truck will be loaded with supplies and fuel for generators. Some of the supplies include a pallet of canned food from MERJ Fleet Services, and buckets and shovels from Home Depot. Harvest Chapel in Fredonia has also made a donation.
Historically, Missions of Helping Hands has done rebuilds following disasters, however Weaver has served in a rescue and recovery operation before.
In 2005, he and six others went to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
“We did recovery, search and rescue, going into houses, looking to see if anybody was still there,” he said.
Weaver said it’s pretty chaotic right now in North Carolina.
“I talked to Baptists On Mission. They said they would love to have volunteers, but they need to be adults and experienced,” he said.
In order to go, he had to fill out an application. He said the purpose is because too many inexperienced volunteers have gone to North Carolina, and that creates problems.
“If you don’t have clearance, the government, I guess, is turning people away,” he said.
Weaver is an experienced heavy equipment operator and tractor trailer driver. He doesn’t know if he will be using that skill set when he arrives, or other work.
Weaver leaves Sunday and plans to return by Oct. 19.
Anyone who would like to make a cash or check donation can contact Weaver at 716-680-0353. The money will be given to Baptists On Mission.
