SPRUCE PINE, N.C. — New N.C. Gov. Josh Stein served alongside volunteers with Baptists on Mission on a home rebuilding project in western North Carolina on Tuesday, Jan. 21, before later confirming that President Donald Trump would visit the region on Friday.

Stein met with a homeowner named Barbara and joined volunteers with Baptists on Mission in making repairs to her home that was severely damaged when Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina last September.

Later, Stein shared photos and wrote about the experience in a Facebook post in which he praised the work of Baptists on Mission.

“Barbara and her family in Spruce Pine endured extensive damage to their home because of Hurricane Helene,” Stein wrote. “I appreciate them inviting me into their home to help install drywall and insulation alongside the hardworking volunteers with Baptists on Mission. What an impressive group! When we work together, we are stronger.”

During his visit, Stein also toured Baptists on Mission’s recently established rebuild center in Spruce Pine, which is one of seven such sites in western North Carolina that will serve as bases of operations for various rebuild projects throughout the region for the foreseeable future.

With the launch of the rebuild phase of the ongoing response to Helene, officials with Baptists on Mission say they plan to serve in the region over the next four to six years to assist homeowners impacted by the storm.

Paul Langston, missions mobilizations consultant with Baptists on Mission who works with the organization’s rebuild centers and mission camps, said Stein’s visit was an encouragement to volunteers and the homeowner.

“We were thankful that he and his team came,” Langston said. “We were impressed by his servant’s heart and humble spirit.”

Stein’s time with Baptists on Mission was part of a larger weekend of service projects in western North Carolina that the governor participated in over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. The weekend culminated on Tuesday with Stein and members of his Cabinet completing  service projects in 12 different counties across the region.

Later during a news briefing held Tuesday afternoon in Greensboro ahead of the incoming winter weather that impacted much of the state, Stein confirmed reports that President Trump would visit western North Carolina on Friday to survey the ongoing recovery efforts in the aftermath of Helene.

“We just learned that the president is coming to North Carolina,” Stein said. “I think that’s very good news for the people of western North Carolina, that this issue is front of mind of the new administration.”

Although details of Trump’s visit have not been made public, Stein said he hopes to meet with the president during his trip to the state.

Trump referenced western North Carolina during his inaugural address on Monday (Jan. 20), after being sworn into office for his second term as president.

“Our country can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency, as recently shown by the wonderful people of North Carolina, who’ve been treated so badly, and other states that are still suffering from a hurricane that took place many months ago,” Trump said in his address.

Stein has also prioritized Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in the early days of his administration. After being sworn in as governor on Jan. 1, Stein traveled to western North Carolina the next day to announce his first executive orders, all of which dealt with Hurricane Helene recovery.

Stein’s orders addressed: increasing the supply of temporary housing units; repairing private roads and bridges; establishing the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC) to coordinate long-term recovery efforts; making permanent the previously established Governor’s Advisory Committee on Western North Carolina Recovery; and providing an additional 16 hours of Helene-related community survive leave to state employees.

For updates and information on how to serve or contribute financially to Baptists on Mission’s ongoing recovery efforts related to Helene, visit www.baptistsonmission.org/helene.