When Karen Edwards saw that the Elk River Community and Education Center was covered in two feet of water and mud, all she could do was cry.
“There was so much mud, that you just didn’t know where to start,” said Edwards, who runs the senior lunch program at the Elk River Community Center.
Nevertheless, Edwards, who is described as the heart and soul of the community center, and several volunteers found a place to start.
On Wednesday, less than three weeks after the flood, the community center will begin serving lunches again.
The program usually serves people ages 60 and up and asks for a donation from anyone younger, but on Wednesday, lunch is open to people of all ages.
“We want to serve anyone who is of need right now,” said Janeene Whanger-Foster, the chief operations officer for Kanawha Valley Senior Services.
The community center normally serves about 55 people a day at the lunches.
At an emergency meeting after the floods, the Kanawha County Commission gave the community center $50,000 to rebuild — money that has gone for cleanup and to replace the freezer, warming plates and refrigerators.
The kitchen has been completely repainted, as has the multi-purpose room, where people gather every Friday for “jam night,” when a live band plays country tunes.
“They just want this place up and running, because it was the place to come,” Edwards said.
Although the community center will be able to provide lunches on Wednesday, it’s still a long way from being fully operational.
At one time, there were pool tables where men gathered to play early in the morning. There was a quilting room, an exercise room and a thrift store.
Now, all those rooms are storage. The carpet and tile have been ripped out and all items that could be salvaged are lying about.
Many of the buildings surrounding the community center are in worse shape.
The shopping center down the road, which contains a Family Dollar, Smith’s Foodfair and Rite Aid, all still are closed.
“We are a diamond in the rough,” Whanger-Foster said.
The community is beginning the rebuilding process. Kanawha County has issued 30 building permits at no charge to people whose homes were damaged in the floods.
County Clerk Vera McCormick is waiving fees for deeds and birth and marriage certificates for flood victims.
McCormick said she is personally absorbing the costs. So far, 29 flood victims have received deeds.
Commission President Kent Carper acknowledged the risk of people who might try to take advantage of the charity.
“If 30 good people get taken care of and we miss one miscreant, that’s OK,” Carper said. “But to put a bunch of red tape up right now is not what we need.”
The County Commission singled out the community center as a place it wanted operational.
Carper assigned Steve Neddo, the county planning director, to provide the community center with contact information for people who could help out.
Neddo gave all credit to the volunteers.
“By having the place already cleaned up, they made it so much easier,” Neddo said.
Edwards was working in her kitchen on Tuesday, showing off her new equipment and getting everything ready for lunch the next day.
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” Edwards, who is an employee of Kanawha Valley Senior Services, said. “I’m looking forward to giving back.
Edward’s chalkboard made light of the floods, saying that the meal would be stray turtle soup. On the menu: ham, green beans, macaroni salad and apple sauce.
The community center will serve lunch Wednesday from noon to 12:30 p.m.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross and the Small Business Administration will set up tables at the community center to provide information about what to do to receive financial aid for flood damage.
Flood survivors who previously have purchased their birth and marriage certificates can receive reimbursement there.
Reach Daniel Desrochers at dan.desrochers@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4886 or follow @drdesrochers on Twitter.