During lunch with Julie O’Brien, the general manager of ProJet Aviation and a Board Member of BYBM, I told her about the project I did in Washington, DC. I explained how good it felt to help the two homeless men and how I would like to do it again but go in the other direction. Julie liked my idea, so she directed me toward McDowell County, West Virginia. She said I might be needed there.

I had never heard of McDowell County, but after reading more about this county’s plight, I decided BYBM should make an expedition there. I wanted to partner up with a local church to work with someone who could give me insight into the county. Unfortunately, this proved to be more difficult than expected. I left messages at different churches but didn’t receive many returning calls.

After a few days, one church called back. A pastor from Welch, Father Tony, loved my idea. He invited me to visit but also wanted me to be prepared. He said the county is in a desperate state and that seeing people in need can be overwhelming. That was all I had to know. Father Tony’s warning didn’t discourage me. It made me more determined than ever!

I wanted to visit but didn’t want to show up empty-handed. So I rented a truck and filled it up with food. I drove through the mountains for five hours and arrived in McDowell. There, I met Father Tony for the first time. We got along right away, so I stayed at the church for three days, and we passed out supplies to the families. The time I spent there also gave me a chance to hear the needs and ideas of the locals. I am grateful for the wonderful people I’ve met. The relationships forged during my trip to McDowell were the perfect gateway to our future initiatives in this county. I knew I’d be back there soon.