Handmade Nativity Scene Donated By Friends of McDowell Tech
Amid the devastation caused across by Hurricane Helene across Western North Carolina, a gift to the hurricane-ravaged town of Old Fort, NC from friends of McDowell Technical Community College is giving hope to a community that is truly clamoring for it. And the gift, a handcrafted nativity scene made by Dave Brubaker of Raleigh, NC with help from his daughter, grandchildren and members of his Life Group at Providence Church, points the way to the source of hope and joy for those who believe.
“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 Dr. J.W. Kelley, President at MTCC who also 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.”
Kelley and Madalyn Gaito, MTCC’s Director of Development and Board Liaison, had visited Old Fort several times after the flood, to visit the college’s newly renovated building there, to visit town officials, business owners and others. After discovering that the town’s existing Christmas decorations had been destroyed during the hurricane, Gaito remembered her friend whom she thought might be able to help bring hope.
The MTCC Connection
Madalyn and her husband Steve have been friends with Brubaker and his family for many years. The Gaitos attended Providence Church with Brubaker and his family when the couple lived in the Raleigh area for many years.
Madalyn spoke with Brubaker in October, shortly after Helene blanketed Old Fort with a layer of mud and debris and destroyed homes, cars and businesses during the unprecedented flooding from torrential rainfall pouring off the mountains surrounding Old Fort. Dave knew Old Fort well and had been to Marion, Old Fort and Swannanoa in the days immediately following the hurricane. Members and friends of Providence provided much needed supplies and sent tractor trailer loads to Old Fort and surrounding areas. The first load arrived in Old Fort just three days after the storm hit the area.
When she was talking with Brubaker, Madalyn remembered a beautiful nativity set that Dave had in his front yard in Raleigh and asked him about it. He had built the set about 15 years ago, and his grandchildren loved to repaint it each year before they put it on his lawn. She mentioned that Old Fort had lost their Christmas decorations and that seed, properly planted, was all that it took for Brubaker to spring into action. He told Gaito that he would love to build an outdoor nativity set for the town.
Brubaker and his Life Group at Providence funded the nativity set, and a friend, along with Brubaker’s daughter Sarah and his grandchildren, ages 8, 10, 12, 12, 15 and 16 all pitched in to cut the forms and sand and paint shepherds, sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, angels, wise men, Mary, Joseph, trees, the manger and, of course, baby Jesus. Dave and Sarah delivered the nativity set to Old Fort when it was finished in November.
A unique feature of Old Fort’s new nativity set is the word, ‘hope,’ which is not usually part of the traditional nativity scene. Sarah said that she included the word ‘HOPE’ because their goal was for the HOPE of the Christmas season to illuminate the hearts of people in the Old Fort community.
Mr. Brubaker is no stranger to helping others. He is a retired surveyor who now spends most of his time working as Program Manager with Operation Resolute, a non-profit organization that serves active-duty military personnel and their family members in North Carolina. According to their website, the group “… partners with chaplains to host family events designed to address the unique needs of military life so that marriages are solid, parent/child relationships are positive and the overall family dynamic is healthy.”
In addition, Brubaker serves in various outdoor and other ministries, and assists with family and men’s events at Providence Church. He and his wife Willie have been married for 52 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, Bible Study and family will serve as a true and lasting symbol of the ‘HOPE’ of Christmas,” said Kelley.”
