‘Some relief’: Nonprofit provides hot meals to storm victims

ROCK HILL, S.C. — There are nearly 500 customers in Rock Hill without power on Tuesday due to destructive storms that blew through the area over the weekend.

The nonprofit Victory Gardens International handed out hot meals, which is one example of how people have come together to help each other recover from the storms.

RELATED COVERAGE:

• Small college damaged by storms shifts to virtual learning
• Severe thunderstorms bring large hailstones, cut power to thousands in SC
• Man escapes to safety after wind knocks tree down onto home
• If a tornado didn’t hit York County, what did? Severe Weather Center 9 explains:

“We have a lot of seniors that are on our street that are unable to get out,” said Dequanta McKnight, a storm victim.

Despite being a storm victim, McKnight made a trip to the food giveaway for storm victims.

“I said I’d make sure that they have something to eat while crews are working to get our power restored,” McKnight said.

It was the first hot meal many storm victims have had since the weekend.

“This storm really set people back quite a bit,” said Jonathan Nazeer, the founder of Victory Gardens International. “Many people, their homes are leaking.”

Victoria Gardens International’s mission is to inspire community redevelopment through initiatives, including urban farming and food production.

Nazeer said the fresh ingredients in the meals came from local farmers.

“Just for a minute, if we could just take their minds off something, give them some relief, that was our goal today,” Nazeer said.

The nonprofit’s facility was also hit by the storm.

“We suffered a tremendous amount of damage to our facility and our greenhouse, which is the bread and butter of our organization,” Nazeer said.

For Nazeer, the need didn’t end just because people’s bellies were filled.

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 32

Chopper 9 Skyzoom flies over York Co. storm damage

‘Big as a golf ball’

“A lot of roads are blocked off,” said Charlie Mitchell, of Rock Hill. “There are power lines down. There are houses that are completely crushed, and I can’t imagine what some of the folks are going through.”

Resident Ivan Gwynn was outside when the storms rolled in on Saturday.

VIDEO: Hundreds in Rock Hill without power days after destructive storm

Hundreds in Rock Hill without power days after destructive storm

“And I looked back out the door and I seen all this hail, about big as a golf ball,” Gwynn said. “Then I come out the next morning, then saw a tree had fell.”

The National Weather Service said the hail was as big as a baseball, which left damage behind.

Winds on Saturday reached up to between 70 mph and 90 mph, according to the NWS.

According to the city, there were at least 60 electric poles that were broken across the area.

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 26

Severe thunderstorms bring large hail, knock down trees, cuts power to thousands A gas station on Highway 72 was twisted by the winds on Saturday.

Rock Hill Schools will operate on a two-hour delay on Wednesday.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity helps with storm cleanup

The community is continuing to come together to support those most significantly impacted by Saturday’s storms.

On Wednesday, Habitat for Humanity of York County searched for volunteers to help with storm cleanups such as debris removal and boarding up windows. Seniors and individuals with disabilities will be prioritized first, according to the organization.

On Saturday, the city’s Neighborhood Empowerment Division will also be organizing a clean-up effort that will connect volunteers and residents with needed yard tools. The city’s Community Toolshed will be stationed at Friedheim Park from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Wheelbarrows, leaf blowers, pole saws, rakes, ladders, and other tools will be available. Stations will be set up for residents to share what their needs are and for volunteers to meet them and potentially provide assistance.

Mary Cureton said Habitat for Humanity of York County knocked on her door Wednesday morning and got to work. She said the storm knocked down several trees in her backyard.

“I’m a senior citizen and I don’t have the money to pay people to cut down my trees and stuff,” she said.

“It’s not been easy for anyone I imagined,” homeowner Philip Hoskins said.

Philip Hoskins and Elizabeth Carpenter sat in their lawn chairs Wednesday and watched as crews removed a massive tree off of their home.

“If you think of our home as four large boxes, two of them are gone,” he said. “Yeah, the front half of the house is missing.”

Volunteers are encouraged to bring any tools that they have to assist.

If you’re interested in volunteering on the disaster response team, email volunteer@yorkcountyhabitat.org. If you’re in need of assistance, call 803-985-9243.

“I want people to know that there’s deep love and rootedness and connectedness within this community and folks are coming together to try and help each other,” said Habitat CEO Tim Veck.

City leaders also encourage the community to complete York County’s Public Damage Report.

©2024 Cox Media Group