Disaster Relief | Crossroads Christian Church

Disaster Relief

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene's devastation across East Tennessee, the urgent need for help has never been more apparent. As you may have seen on the news and social media, the damage from the storm is often beyond words.

Yet, the spirit of Appalachia has shined in so many ways. Amid the destruction, people have come together to help their neighbors. From the very beginning, Crossroads has been on the front lines, thanks to the unwavering support of our incredible church family. We could not have done this without you.

On this page, you can learn about what we have already accomplished, where we are currently providing assistance, and how your contributions will be used to aid our neighbors affected by the storms.

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news. Crossroads is partnering with Appalachian Service Project (ASP) to help rebuild hope for a family that lost their home in last fall’s devastating floods.

A new home will soon rise in Johnson City, and we get to be part of making it happen!

After months of planning and securing permits, the foundation is already being poured, and now comes the best part: rolling up our sleeves and building together. Our goal is to complete construction by the end of October, and we need volunteers of all ages (11 and up!) to join us in this incredible mission.

Whether you’ve never held a hammer or you’re a seasoned builder, there’s a place for you on this team. We especially need those with construction experience to help guide our crews, but every set of hands will help bring this family closer to home.

This is more than a building project—it’s a chance to show God’s love in action, to create lasting memories, and to be part of giving the Marin family a fresh start.

If you’d like to join the work (or just learn more), reach out to Larry at 423-467-5921 or

Together, we can turn wood and block into a home filled with hope.

What Happened in East Tennessee?

On Friday, September 27, Hurricane Helene made its way over East Tennessee and poured rain on our area. The Nolichucky River, which flows through Erwin, Lamar, and Greeneville, Tennessee, crested to 30 feet above its banks swallowing up land surrounding the river, flooding Interstate 26 in Erwin, wiping out numerous bridges and dams, flooding the Unicoi County Hospital, and leaving a wake of destruction behind it.

Countless people lost their homes, businesses, and cars and left their land covered in inches of sludge. The floods wiped out cell towers, water lines, sewer lines, and electricity, leaving many people trapped and unable to communicate with the outside world. Our church aches and hurts for our local community. In the aftermath of this catastrophic event all we can do is, "weep with those who weep." (Romans 12:15b).

Crossroads' Initial Response

On Saturday, September 28, Crossroads was asked to serve as our area's donation and collection center. We started collecting needed items such as food, water bottles, cleaning supplies, and more. We collected supplies for a week, and during that week we saw an incredible turnout of generosity from both our local community and from people across the country. Numerous semis arrived loaded down with needed items, and hundreds of volunteers arrived on our campus to help us unload, sort, and distribute items to those in need.

As this week of the collection came to and end, we began sending out more and more supplies to local distribution centers located closer to the impacted sites. We sent out truck load after truckload of needed items into these areas to help them out.

GIVE AND SERVE WITH DISASTER RELIEF

DONATE

We have set up a dedicated line item in our budget to support those impacted by the flooding financially. You can contribute to this fund by clicking the link below.

GIVE ONLINE TO SUPPORT

SERVE OPPORTUNITIES

As recovery and rebuilding efforts continue, Crossroads will partner with some local and domestic groups. Some of these groups have opportunities for volunteers to serve in a variety of ways. Below we will list organizations we are partnering with and share volunteer opportunities they have.

APPALACHIA SERVICE PROJECT

Appalachia Service Project is a Christian ministry, open to all people, that inspires hope and service through volunteer home repair and replacement in Central Appalachia. Appalachia Service Project, or ASP, is a strategic partner of Crossroads Christian Church. You can learn more about ASP and find out more about current volunteer opportunities they are offering.

MORE ABOUT ASP

VOLUNTEER WITH ASP