In keeping with the many groups responding in incredible ways to the disaster, Montwell Park has served as a central location for an important part of the emergency response.
As a nonprofit, Montwell Park has engaged community-minded partners like The HighRocks’ Hub, Country Roads Crossfit, and Hill and Holler, and provided a space with easy access and parking. This made it possible for the directors of the Hub to quickly set up their space as the primary Greenbrier Volunteer Reception Center with the help of many volunteers and WV Americorps answering phones and coordinating with flooded sites to make sure people could go volunteer where they were needed. Country Roads Crossfit made it possible to donate money for supplies through their nonprofit, the GROW Foundation, and co-owners Bimbo Coles and Laura Lee have unloaded and distributed tractor trailer loads of relief supplies from the Montwell Park site. Despite power outages, the restaurant at Hill and Holler provided pizza to hungry volunteers at multiple affected sites. Working together as a community, everyone has joined forces to help one another in the aftermath of the flood.
The Hub will continue to be the site for answering phone calls of people who wish to volunteer, but the primary volunteer sites are now moved to Rainelle’s old Magic Mart Store, and the old Family Dollar store next to the Food Lion in White Sulphur Springs. Kids are making their way into town again for the programing at the Hub, which is open for its regular hours. There is a garden the teenagers are growing, full of squash, tomatoes, and beans, and tons of activities at the Hub at Montwell Park. Bimbo Coles and Laura Lee at Country Roads Crossfit are still taking donations that people are bringing and coordinating the distribution all while continuing their workout classes for the community. Hill and Holler is open for regular hours, with the deck gaining much popularity during these beautiful summer evenings. The people of West Virginia work shoulder to shoulder to help each other in times of need. Check out the Montwell Park facebook page for further information and call (304) 808-1875 to volunteer in flood affected areas.
