Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men share 2024 achievements in a Year in Review update

December 8, 2024 | Island Features | By: Joy Crist

Volunteers work to install a new lift. Photo by CHUMM

Greetings from Hatteras Island! Thank you for helping to make CHUMM’s 46th year another successful adventure. Our all-volunteer organization continues to be blessed with the ability to help others in need. Thank God there were no major storms to deal with on Hatteras Island in 2024 but there was no end to those who needed our help with other matters, so our volunteers were busy. CHUMM has helped many families with food, rent, utilities, medical emergencies, and other needs over the past year. The Dare County Department of Social Services (DCSS) and others, are our partners in this effort. Most of our requests for emergency and humanitarian assistance originate with DCSS and then are forwarded to us. Here are some examples of the work we’ve been doing

Emergency and Food Assistance:

Served over 200 family members every month from our Food Pantry.
Paid the rent and/or utilities for families with temporary financial crises.
Restored heating and air conditioning for families without the means to help themselves.
Provided new or good used appliances for individuals in need.
Paid for dental treatments for several individuals who were suffering with dental issues but couldn’t afford their treatment.
Repaired or replaced leaking roofs, HVAC systems, plumbing and/or electrical issues, and similar problems for many locals.
Paid the co-pay fees and travel expenses for two seniors who required eye surgery.
Helped purchase a used car for a hard-working single mother who lost her job because she had no transportation. She’s since been re-hired and is now back at work.
Installed a public water line and paid the utility connection fee for a senior woman who kept getting sick because her well water had become contaminated.
Provided and installed aluminum wheelchair ramps and/or electric wheelchair lifts for 9 homebound individuals.

Wheelchair Lifts:

Volunteers work to install a new life. Photo by CHUMM

CHUMM is continuing the important community project of installing wheelchair ramps or electric lifts to help those who are homebound because they can no longer safely use the outdoor stairs of their elevated homes. Wheelchair ramps are practical for homes that have a relatively low elevation. But, for homes with higher elevations, the wheelchair ramps are impractical since some would need to be more than 100 ft long with multiple switchbacks. So, as an alternative, CHUMM began installing electric outdoor lifts in homes with higher elevations. We began installing wheelchair lifts in 2021 and just recently completed our 15th installation. And since the wheelchair lifts can be moved and repurposed, we’ve relocated 3 that were no longer needed by the initial recipients. The wheelchair lifts have been life-changing for many — tears of gratitude flowed recently from one gentleman who took his first ride after being homebound for months.

Food Pantry:

Photo from CHUMM

Ray and Claire Schaaf, a very special volunteer couple, are retiring after 24 years of tirelessly operating our Food Pantry. There is a special love for them from the innumerable people they have served. Although Ray and Claire are irreplaceable, a group of volunteers from Hatteras Island Meals has agreed to manage and operate the daily functions of the Food Pantry and continue this important 34-year-old community service.

Praise for our Supporters and Volunteers:

As always, we’re blessed to have our loyal supporters such as you, backing our dedicated volunteers. This is a very powerful collaboration. We anticipate that our upcoming 47th year will again be one of service.

The public can donate via the organization’s website at https://www.hatterasmethodistmen.org/, and supporters can also donate by mail. Checks should be written to “United Methodist Men” and mailed to Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men, P.O Box 1591, Buxton, NC 27920.