Volunteering in the Western Communities
Report from Helene: R.W. “Chip” Watkins, MD, Senior Medical Director, CCNC
The need in Western North Carolina (WNC) continues to be overwhelming. Many in my community suffered terrible personal effects and catastrophic property loss. So many lost everything and are suffering significant mental illness – particularly anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
One way to heal and create wholeness, at least for me, has been to look outward to where I might help those who were so much worse off than me and my family. I put my energy into helping at the World Central Kitchen (WCK). Along with friend and fellow family physician Jana Watts, MD (pictured above), I joined a group that helped serve over 600 hot meals per day and provided potable water at each WCK site. We gave out Halloween candy on October 31 which was fun and perhaps added just a bit of normalcy for many.
Many thanks to CCNC for allowing employees to take PTO hours to volunteer in recovery efforts. Many CCNC folks helped out through churches, faith communities, and social charities. We are all grateful for your commitment and grace particularly as we see winter approaching.
Like many volunteer efforts, I am quite sure that I benefited more from the experience than the people I served. This land and these people (my people) are forever changed. It won’t get better quickly, but it will heal, and it will get better with time. Keep WNC in your thoughts and prayers. Tell those you care about that you love them and if possible, hold them a little closer tonight.
