Amid the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene across western North Carolina, a gift to the town of Old Fort from friends of McDowell Technical Community College gave hope to the community.
The gift, a handcrafted Nativity scene made by Dave Brubaker, of Raleigh, with help from his daughter, grandchildren and members of his Life Group at Providence Baptist Church, points a way to hope and joy.
“In times of crisis, like so many in Old Fort have experienced, it is critical to find a source of strength, hope and comfort to manage the stress of daily living, to combat despair and to find the courage to pick up and move forward,” said J.W. Kelley, president at McDowell Tech who has a background in Christian counseling. “We obviously live in a broken world. The Nativity scene is a symbol of the living hope that brings healing and peace.”
At the presentation of the new Nativity scene are, from left, Madalyn Gaito, MTCC’s director of development and board liaison; Dave Brubaker, who built the new Nativity scene; Sarah Brubaker Luers, Dave’s daughter; Old Fort Mayor Pam Snypes; Ryan Garrison, a vice president at MTCC; Old Fort Administrator Renee Taylor; and Tax Collector Gail Turner.
Kelley and Madalyn Gaito, McDowell Tech’s director of development and board liaison, visited Old Fort several times after the flood to visit the college’s newly renovated building there and to visit town officials, business owners and residents.
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After finding out that the town’s existing Christmas decorations were destroyed during the hurricane, Gaito remembered a friend she thought might be able to help bring hope.
Madalyn Gaito and her husband Steve have been friends with Brubaker and his family for many years. The Gaitos attended Providence Baptist Church with Brubaker and his family when the couple lived in the Raleigh area for many years.
The town of Old Fort recently received a new Nativity scene to replace the decorations destroyed by Hurricane Helene. At the new Nativity scene are, from left, Old Fort Alderwoman Erin Adams, Town Administrator Renee Taylor, Mayor Pam Snypes, Alderman Melvin Lytle, Alderman Jamie Grindstaff, Alderman Wayne S. Stafford, Town Tax Collector Gail Turner and Alderwoman Iretha Hancock.
Madalyn Gaito spoke with Brubaker in October, shortly after Helene blanketed Old Fort with a layer of mud and debris and destroyed homes, cars and businesses. Brubaker knew Old Fort well and had visited Marion, Old Fort and Swannanoa three times in the days immediately following the hurricane. He brought truck loads of supplies gathered by friends at Providence Church.
The first load arrived in Old Fort just three days after the storm hit the area.
When she was talking with Brubaker, Gaito remembered a Nativity set that he had in his front yard in Raleigh. Brubaker built the set about 15 years ago, and his grandchildren repainted it each year.
Gaito mentioned that Old Fort lost its Christmas decorations. That seed was all that it took for Brubaker to spring into action. He told Gaito that he would build an outdoor Nativity set for the town.
Brubaker and his Life Group at Providence funded the Nativity set. His daughter Sarah and his grandchildren pitched in to cut the forms and sand and paint shepherds, sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, angels, wise men, Mary, Joseph, trees, the manger and baby Jesus. Brubaker and Sarah delivered the nativity set to Old Fort when it was finished in November.
Old Fort’s new Nativity set is centered around the word, “HOPE.” Sarah said that she included the word “HOPE” with the goal that the hope of the Christmas season would illuminate the hearts of people in the Old Fort community.
Brubaker is no stranger to helping others. He is a retired surveyor who now spends most of his time volunteering as program manager with Operation Resolute, a nonprofit organization that serves active duty military personnel and their family members in North Carolina.
Brubaker
Brubaker serves in various outdoor ministries and assists with family and men’s events at Providence Baptist Church. He and his wife Willie have been married for more than 47 years.
“We realize that life in Old Fort and other parts of McDowell County have forever been changed by Hurricane Helene, but our prayer is that the Nativity scene donated by the Brubaker family and Providence Baptist Church will serve as a true and lasting symbol of the ‘HOPE’ of Christmas,” Kelley said.
