Photo by Derek Redd Members of the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office and Valley Grove and Triadelphia volunteer fire departments stand in front of one of the trucks collecting food for Ohio County flood victims. Pictures are, from left, Valley Grove volunteer firefighter Craig Blacker, OCSO Col. Austin Zitzmiller, Tr

In the days following June’s deadly flash flooding in Ohio County, first responders like Ohio County Sheriff’s Cpl. Austin Kitzmiller were in the thick of the damage, helping survivors any way they could.

Months later, that spirit hasn’t waned, though it has taken a different form.

Kitzmiller stood outside the Highlands Walmart on Wednesday, along with members of the Valley Grove and Triadelphia volunteer fire departments, collecting shelf-stable foods to stock the pantry that now sits in the basement of Triadelphia United Methodist Church.

That pantry has become a key component of the recovery process for residents of Triadelphia and Valley Grove, the communities hit hardest by the flooding, which killed nine people and destroyed dozens of homes.

On Wednesday afternoon, OCSO officials and firefighters thanked locals as they came up with bags – and sometimes carts – of food. A large truck was filling up with bottled water, canned goods, boxed foods and more.

“As first responders, it’s just kind of our job,” Kitzmiller said. “We feel that this is part of our responsibilities. Our job is to help the community and these are the communities that we serve.

“So doing this is just second nature,” he added.

He has been heartened by the community’s response in helping flood survivors, something he has watched flourish since the waters receded. It began at Triadelphia United Methodist, which served as a center for the community, and blossomed outward since then.

Kitzmiller said the upcoming holidays were part of the reason why he decided to spearhead the food drive, but it wasn’t the only reason. The church’s food pantry will remain a fixture of the community, so he wanted to make sure it stayed stocked.

“It’s going to be a lasting thing,” he said of the pantry. “The holidays are a big part of it, but the need is always going to be there. So to help the community throughout the duration is a bigger part of it.”