Hurricane Helene caused havoc in the Southeast United States, killing 252, injuring more than 100, and causing approximately $78 billion in property damage. Nearly two years later, communities are still recovering from the 140 m.p.h. winds that left people homeless through parts of Florida and Georgia.
This past month, Mary Stoeffler organized and led the Holy Family Parish's mission trip to Ray City, Ga., to provide disaster relief work, returning to Georgia for the second consecutive year. The trip included 43 adults and children and took place between July 10–18.
"They had two back-to-back hurricanes, and this young couple who had this camp to run were just overwhelmed," she said.
Stoeffler, on her 15th trip, has taken kids and adults across the country to assist families who are trying to recover from severe natural disasters. In 2023, the trip went to Kentucky in response to a number of devastating tornadoes, and in 2024, Stoeffler's troop spent a week in Fort Meyers, Fla., in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. This year, she originally set North Carolina as the destination; however, plans changed this past winter
"Originally, our plan was to go to North Carolina. We were set with that until November, and that kind of fell through," she said. "So, I went back to the people we worked with last year, and they said, 'These people could use your help tremendously.'"
Ray City is approximately 10 miles southeast of Nashville, Ga., and 18 miles from Valdosta. The city incurred severe damage from hurricanes. The damage was so pervasive in the area that former President Joe Biden visited in October 2024.
This year's trip was unique because the entire group worked on the same property: a campground that hosts various groups throughout the year, including people with disabilities and those suffering from addiction.
Stoeffler said this year gave everyone an opportunity to work on different skills than in the past. "We went there and ran chainsaws for, like, four days and just gave it a fresh new look."
"My favorite part was running the chainsaws," said Landon Smith, a junior at Prairie du Chien High School. Smith has participated in multiple mission trips with Stoeffler. "They were very lucky that they didn't have any of their buildings take any tree damage. They only had one building with a roof that needed minor repair.”
"They did have one building they were trying to convert into a smaller retreat area, so we did have seven guys in there drywalling, mudding and taping," said Stoeffler.
She added that the camp's mess hall required extensive cleanup work due to leaks and other issues. "That was really bad. We cleaned that up, repainted it, and scrubbed the cement floor. How it looked when it was done was unbelievable. It was hard work."
Working on the campground afforded the group the luxury of working and staying in the same place, which also allowed them to spend their time more efficiently than in previous years.
"The pros were that we were all together," said Stoeffler. "We could see what everybody was doing; we didn't have to pack lunches, and we didn't spend three hours on the bus dropping off and picking people up."
"I liked it," said Smith. "Last year, if you finished your job, you'd sometimes be stuck where you were, and you couldn't really do anything."
He added that they didn't have to deal with other logistical issues, such as waiting for tools to get to the work sites. "For this, when I finished my job, I could go over to other work sites to see if they needed help."
Jerry and Sandy Hudson, who are affiliated with the campground, referenced the mission trip in a social media post, saying, "It's as if a crew of magical elves has descended upon this campground. I don't know who trained these kids to work, but I'm starting to think they are all Navy SEALS. And they do it with a cheerful attitude and good humor."
When the group wasn't hard at work, they had the chance to enjoy the campgrounds' amenities, allowing them access to a swimming pool, a pond, a creek, and a kitchen.
"We could work a hot six hours in the sun and then the kids could go have a break and do bonding things," said Stoeffler. "At night we talked about what we saw during the day and where their faith plays a role and how their faith helps get them through."
Father Brandon Guenther also came down and spent the week with the mission group.
"I know the kids all said that was a highlight, getting to know him in that way," said Stoeffler.
She added that the arrangement did have some drawbacks because the kids didn't get to hear as many personal stories from people affected by the disasters.
According to Smith, spending an extended period of time with one family affected by disaster gave him a chance to reflect on his faith and more fully understand what they were going through.
"I think some people missed hearing stories about the homeowners and getting to know them more," he said, "but I think this really helped everyone learn the stories of the owners of the campground... I learned to listen. You don't always know what people were going through."
