Virginia Tech students, employees help with Helene cleanup in Giles County

A group of Virginia Tech students and employees volunteered on Thursday and Friday to help with cleanup at Eggleston Springs Campground in Giles County.

Each felt compelled to help after seeing the devastation from Hurricane Helene on TV and learning about its impact in Southwest Virginia, western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.

Campers at the entrance sustained significant damage with many turned on their sides and covered with mud.

“I was in complete shock,” said Grace McHenry, a senior pursuing a degree in biological systems engineering. “My family and I go camping, and we have trailers like these [at the campground], and just to see them thrown about so easily. … Those things are big, and it takes a lot of force.”

The flood adestroyed the bathhouse and picnic shelters were removed from their foundations. A stage that usually hosts entertainment for campers was buckled and a small home for the owners was also flooded.

“It feels great to help,” said Reagan Scherer, a California native pursuing a degree in physics. “I know a lot of people are struggling in the area right now, and I’d rather give back than sit back at home and watch the news.”

A contact in Giles County led Isabelle Largen, assistant director for food access initiatives at VT, to put together groups of volunteers to help with cleanup of the campground on three days with the final day planned this week on Thursday.

“It’s not hard to lend a hand where it’s needed or join groups like ours to find a way to get involved in the community,” Largen said. “This region means a lot to me, just being from Appalachia and working in Appalachia every single day to help build connections between campus and local communities.”

Putting the school’s motto to work, Ut Prosim, That I may Serve, the team worked to clean up trash and debris both days last week and sorted items that could potentially be salvaged.

“It speaks a lot about the community and the students and the community at Virginia Tech that they’re willing to come out here and willing to take time out of their school day to give back to the community in Appalachia,” McHenry said. “It makes me think that I picked the right choice in coming to school here.”