Page 12 - Douglas Coffee Newcomers Guide 2025

RESTORING COFFEE COUNTY AFTER HURRICANE HELENE

Hope for Coffee

By Courtenay Houston
W hen Hurricane Helene struck Hope for Coffee quickly built a digital Among those helped was a 76-year-old

Coffee County on Sept. 26,
woman who lost two back rooms of her
database to track damage and coordinate
2024, it left behind devastation
unlike anything the community had ever aid. Leaders divided the county into nine house. Volunteers removed the rooms and
added a new exterior wall. She didn’t have
quadrants, knocking on doors and identifying
experienced. Homes were destroyed, roads the most vulnerable: uninsured homeowners, to move and she used her insurance payout
were impassable, and thousands were the elderly, and disabled residents who to donate to Hope for Coffee, ensuring
left without power for weeks. But amid the needed urgent assistance. others could also rebuild. Another case was
wreckage, Hope for Coffee emerged as a a disabled veteran who injured himself while
beacon of resilience and recovery. trying to fix his roof. Volunteers not only
Hope for Coffee is a faith-based “ repaired his home but also discovered and
organization that unites churches, leaders, fixed a plumbing leak.
and volunteers to provide disaster relief Even in our darkest moments, Six months later, many in Coffee County
and long-term recovery assistance. Hope our community remains still live under tarps, battle mold damage, and
for Coffee was established when the Hope struggle to return to normal. “Our biggest
Initiative, a Kentucky-based nonprofit hopeful. Together we can challenge remains finding and assisting
experienced in disaster relief, connected rebuild lives, restore families, those most in need,” said Devis. “There are
with local leaders. City of Douglas Mayor 43,000 people in Coffee County, many who
Tony Paulk reached out to Gracepoint and revive our community – still need help, and the only way to connect
Church, and from there, Hope for Coffee one day at a time. is by knocking on their door. That takes a lot
took root as the central hub for organizing of time, money, and effort. But we can do it.”
volunteer efforts.
The storm’s destruction was vast – giant “
oak trees crashed through roofs, tornados
ripped apart homes, and the county faced Devis Burnam, Executive
an estimated 3 million cubic yards of debris. Director for Hope for Coffee
With no immediate access to FEMA or the
Red Cross, the community had to rely on
itself. Volunteers armed with chainsaws Pennsylvania-based Mennonite Disaster Hope for Coffee continues its mission
cleared roads, while church and community Relief (MDR) arrived in Coffee County within to restore homes and lives. To support
volunteers canvassed almost 6,000 homes weeks to join local volunteers and has their efforts, mail donations to PO Box 71,
to assess needs. remained ever since. Douglas, GA 31534.

8 Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce | 912-384-1873 | douglasga.org