Lee student volunteers during their time in Black Mountain
Students from Lee’s Disaster and Healthcare Mission Management program traveled to Black Mountain, N.C., to partner with Operation Blessing in a disaster response from Hurricane Helene.
This trip was led by Jake Fast, director of the DHMM program and assistant professor of science in emergency management, and Matthew Adams, lecturer of nursing.
“We are called to bear one another’s burdens and are so grateful for Operation Blessing allowing us to do so through their organization,” said Mr. Fast. “During our spring break, we met and heard the stories of so many wonderful people who are simply weary from months of recovery after Hurricane Helene. I am exceptionally proud of our students and the compassion and care with which they demonstrated Christ’s love to every person they encountered.”
The student volunteers included Annie Beeler, Connor Brown, Aubrey Case, Logan Johnson, and Joshua Powell. The group was also joined by Sarah Livingston, a recent Lee graduate of the DHMM program, who is now working for Operation Blessing.
The group spent their spring break week cleaning up debris, chainsawing fallen trees, painting, pressure washing, working in construction, and helping with warehouse management.
“This was my second time volunteering with Operation Blessing, and it was very impactful and inspiring,” said Mr. Brown. “While working, I personally got to talk with one of the homeowners affected by the flooding of Hurricane Helene and saw the damage done in the downtown River Arts District. I did not realize how much help that area still needed because we don’t hear about it as much anymore, so this trip was very eye-opening to how much work is still to be done in response to these natural disasters.”
Lee University’s DHMM program prepares students to become leaders in the field of disaster preparation and response and healthcare missions. While in the program, students will receive numerous certifications and skills-based training, as well as experiential opportunities in various settings.
Operation Blessing is a nonprofit, humanitarian organization dedicated to demonstrating God’s love by alleviating human suffering. For 40 years, through compassionate, efficient, and locally focused programs, Operation Blessing has provided hunger relief, medical care, clean water, and disaster relief to millions around the world.
For more information about the DHMM program, visit leeu/dhmm/.
For more information about Operation Blessing, visit ob.org/.
Lee student Joshua Powell operates a bulldozer to help clear debris