- Brethren congregations are in the path of Hurricane Rita.
- Disaster Child Care volunteers are evacuated.
- Shipments of relief goods continue from Brethren Service Center.
- Brethren Disaster Response clean-up project continues in Alabama.
- Two more Brethren grants given for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
- Local food banks are another way to give to hurricane relief.
- New phone numbers are in place for volunteering.
- Web page features 'What Brethren are doing to respond to Hurricane Katrina.'
Friday, September 23, 2005
Newsline Update: Church of the Brethren Hurricane Response
Brethren congregations are in the path of Hurricane Rita.
Three Church of the Brethren congregations in Louisiana and Texas are in the path of Hurricane Rita and are in areas under mandatory evacuation orders: Falfurrias (Texas) Church of the Brethren, Roanoke (La.) Church of the Brethren, and Lake Charles (La.) Community Church of the Brethren. The three churches have a combined membership of 197.
Southern Plains District minister A Joan Lowry encouraged the denomination to be in prayer for the Brethren who are on the road seeking places of safety. She knows where Roanoke pastor James Balmer has evacuated to, but of the rest of the three congregations, she said, "They're on the road somewhere, the church folks as well as those they are helping." The Lake Charles church had been housing four families evacuated from Hurricane Katrina, including about 17-18 people.
Lowry expressed the sadness of the situation, especially for those who are evacuating for the second time. "And now they're displaced again," she said. Each of the evacuated families had already found employment in the Lake Charles area, she said.
"God is good and faithful, and we just have to keep trucking," she said, expressing her deep faith in God to care for the people of the district during this critical time.
Source: 9/23/2005 Newsline
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Three Church of the Brethren congregations in Louisiana and Texas are in the path of Hurricane Rita and are in areas under mandatory evacuation orders: Falfurrias (Texas) Church of the Brethren, Roanoke (La.) Church of the Brethren, and Lake Charles (La.) Community Church of the Brethren. The three churches have a combined membership of 197.
Southern Plains District minister A Joan Lowry encouraged the denomination to be in prayer for the Brethren who are on the road seeking places of safety. She knows where Roanoke pastor James Balmer has evacuated to, but of the rest of the three congregations, she said, "They're on the road somewhere, the church folks as well as those they are helping." The Lake Charles church had been housing four families evacuated from Hurricane Katrina, including about 17-18 people.
Lowry expressed the sadness of the situation, especially for those who are evacuating for the second time. "And now they're displaced again," she said. Each of the evacuated families had already found employment in the Lake Charles area, she said.
"God is good and faithful, and we just have to keep trucking," she said, expressing her deep faith in God to care for the people of the district during this critical time.
Source: 9/23/2005 Newsline
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Disaster Child Care volunteers are evacuated.
A Disaster Child Care volunteer team has been evacuated from the Cajun Dome in Lafayette, La., in advance of Hurricane Rita. The hurricane is headed to the western Louisiana and eastern Texas coastline today, expected to make landfall tomorrow morning. The child care volunteers who were evacuated had been serving evacuees of Hurricane Katrina.
In another Disaster Child Care update, the program expects to offer new Level I trainings soon in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and in Elgin, Ill. The additional trainings have been added to the regular schedule to help meet the high demand for child care for hurricane evacuees. Wilma Ammermann has begun as volunteer coordinator of the additional trainings.
Source: 9/23/2005 Newsline
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A Disaster Child Care volunteer team has been evacuated from the Cajun Dome in Lafayette, La., in advance of Hurricane Rita. The hurricane is headed to the western Louisiana and eastern Texas coastline today, expected to make landfall tomorrow morning. The child care volunteers who were evacuated had been serving evacuees of Hurricane Katrina.
In another Disaster Child Care update, the program expects to offer new Level I trainings soon in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and in Elgin, Ill. The additional trainings have been added to the regular schedule to help meet the high demand for child care for hurricane evacuees. Wilma Ammermann has begun as volunteer coordinator of the additional trainings.
Source: 9/23/2005 Newsline
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Shipments of relief goods continue from Brethren Service Center.
Church of the Brethren staff, on behalf of Church World Service (CWS), sent the first shipment of relief materials to areas affected by Hurricane Katrina on the evening of Aug. 30. The 5,000 blankets and the 5,040 Gift of the Heart Health Kits reached their destination, Baton Rouge, La., and were distributed on Aug. 31.
As of Sept. 19, 18 more shipments from the warehouses at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., have been sent to affected areas. Brethren, along with other CWS partners, are invited to celebrate this outpouring of relief.
Following are summaries of relief materials received, by state:
Source: 9/23/2005 Newsline
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Church of the Brethren staff, on behalf of Church World Service (CWS), sent the first shipment of relief materials to areas affected by Hurricane Katrina on the evening of Aug. 30. The 5,000 blankets and the 5,040 Gift of the Heart Health Kits reached their destination, Baton Rouge, La., and were distributed on Aug. 31.
As of Sept. 19, 18 more shipments from the warehouses at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., have been sent to affected areas. Brethren, along with other CWS partners, are invited to celebrate this outpouring of relief.
Following are summaries of relief materials received, by state:
- Alabama: 1,035 Health Kits and 1,020 School Kits
- Arkansas: 540 Health Kits
- Louisiana: 6,000 blankets, 22,230 Health Kits, 510 School Kits
- Michigan: 315 Health Kits
- Mississippi: 6,000 blankets, 19,545 Health Kits, 1,625 Clean-Up Buckets
- Texas: 1,000 blankets, 7,065 Health Kits, 1,020 School Kits Virginia: 720 Health Kits, 1,830 School Kits, 25 Kids Kits
Source: 9/23/2005 Newsline
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Brethren Disaster Response clean-up project continues in Alabama.
Work at a clean-up project in Citronelle, Ala., continues in cooperation between the General Board's Brethren Disaster Response, Southeastern District, and Cedar Creek Church of the Brethren.
In recent developments at the project, a decision has been made to begin repair work on a number of homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina in the Cedar Creek Church of the Brethren community.
Volunteers are scheduled for the upcoming months; however, more volunteers will be needed for this project as it expands into nearby communities in Mississippi. Please contact your district disaster coordinator of call the Emergency Response office at 800-451-4407 ext. 4.
Source: 9/23/2005 Newsline
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Work at a clean-up project in Citronelle, Ala., continues in cooperation between the General Board's Brethren Disaster Response, Southeastern District, and Cedar Creek Church of the Brethren.
In recent developments at the project, a decision has been made to begin repair work on a number of homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina in the Cedar Creek Church of the Brethren community.
Volunteers are scheduled for the upcoming months; however, more volunteers will be needed for this project as it expands into nearby communities in Mississippi. Please contact your district disaster coordinator of call the Emergency Response office at 800-451-4407 ext. 4.
Source: 9/23/2005 Newsline
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Two more Brethren grants given for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
The Emergency Disaster Fund has given two more grants of $50,000 and $15,000 toward the Hurricane Katrina relief effort in addition to several previous grants, bringing the total to $110,000. The fund is a ministry of the Church of the Brethren General Board.
The $15,000 grant supports the clean-up project in Citronelle, Ala., opened by the Brethren Disaster Response program on Sept. 13. The project is based at Cedar Creek Church of the Brethren and is a cooperative effort with the congregation and Southeastern District.
The $50,000 grant supports a greatly expanded Church World Service appeal of more than $9,500,000 related to Hurricane Katrina. The appeal includes five major areas of response: deployment of Disaster Response and Recovery Liaisons; the distribution of Tools of Hope, blankets, and Gift of the Heart Kits; development and support of longterm recovery organizations; spiritual care and Care-for-Caregivers; and a relocation program for 500 displaced Americans.
To give to the Emergency Disaster Fund go to www.brethrendisasterresponse.org or mail checks made payable to the Emergency Disaster Fund to 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.
Source: 9/23/2005 Newsline
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The Emergency Disaster Fund has given two more grants of $50,000 and $15,000 toward the Hurricane Katrina relief effort in addition to several previous grants, bringing the total to $110,000. The fund is a ministry of the Church of the Brethren General Board.
The $15,000 grant supports the clean-up project in Citronelle, Ala., opened by the Brethren Disaster Response program on Sept. 13. The project is based at Cedar Creek Church of the Brethren and is a cooperative effort with the congregation and Southeastern District.
The $50,000 grant supports a greatly expanded Church World Service appeal of more than $9,500,000 related to Hurricane Katrina. The appeal includes five major areas of response: deployment of Disaster Response and Recovery Liaisons; the distribution of Tools of Hope, blankets, and Gift of the Heart Kits; development and support of longterm recovery organizations; spiritual care and Care-for-Caregivers; and a relocation program for 500 displaced Americans.
To give to the Emergency Disaster Fund go to www.brethrendisasterresponse.org or mail checks made payable to the Emergency Disaster Fund to 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.
Source: 9/23/2005 Newsline
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Local food banks are another way to give to hurricane relief.
Looking at the new numbers of hurricane evacuees, the Church of the Brethren director of Emergency Response has issued a call to support local food pantries as another way to support the hurricane relief efforts. Roy Winter, director of Emergency Response for the General Board, explained that many food banks across the country have contributed food to the hurricane relief effort through America's Second Harvest.
America's Second Harvest is a food bank network that serves as a coordinating organization for most local food banks, and is the largest hunger relief organization in the US (see www.secondharvest.org). Now, local food bank shelves have been depleted by the response to Katrina, and communities need to help restock them, Winter said.
He also explained that the Church of the Brethren response has coordinated with other Christian denominations and nonprofit organizations--such as America's Second Harvest, the American Red Cross, Church World Service, and others--who have developed expertise in particular areas of disaster response. "We are trying not to duplicate the services of other churches and organizations like Second Harvest, because they are doing them well," Winter said. "It helps the whole process to work together."
He and his staff have focused their efforts in areas in which the Brethren have expertise as well. The Brethren four-pronged response includes grants from the Emergency Disaster Fund; warehousing and shipping of relief materials from the Brethren Service Center by the Service Ministries program; Disaster Child Care; and repair and rebuilding efforts by the Disaster Response Program.
Winter also called on Brethren to maintain an understanding of the bigger picture and continue support for survivors of other disasters. "There are other needs out there, some other disasters that need to be responded to," he said, naming in particular the ongoing Brethren rebuilding projects in Florida and Ohio that still need volunteers. There also is a clean-up and repair project in Alabama in response to Hurricane Katrina.
"The main focus of the Disaster Response Program is longterm recovery," said disaster response coordinator Jane Yount, "and 'longterm' can mean months or even years. So, the question is not whether you can go three days after the disaster, but rather can you go three months or a year after the disaster--after the media blitz is over and the survivors start wondering whether anyone still cares."
This weekend, Winter will be at the Brethren Disaster Auction in Lebanon, Pa., where the number of Gift of the Heart Health Kits that organizers expect to assemble throughout the day Saturday has been upped to 25,000 from 20,000. That seems like a lot of health kits, Winter acknowledged. But looking at the situation in the Gulf Coast in anticipation of the arrival of Rita, he said with a sigh, "We'll probably use them all."
Source: 9/23/2005 Newsline
top
Looking at the new numbers of hurricane evacuees, the Church of the Brethren director of Emergency Response has issued a call to support local food pantries as another way to support the hurricane relief efforts. Roy Winter, director of Emergency Response for the General Board, explained that many food banks across the country have contributed food to the hurricane relief effort through America's Second Harvest.
America's Second Harvest is a food bank network that serves as a coordinating organization for most local food banks, and is the largest hunger relief organization in the US (see www.secondharvest.org). Now, local food bank shelves have been depleted by the response to Katrina, and communities need to help restock them, Winter said.
He also explained that the Church of the Brethren response has coordinated with other Christian denominations and nonprofit organizations--such as America's Second Harvest, the American Red Cross, Church World Service, and others--who have developed expertise in particular areas of disaster response. "We are trying not to duplicate the services of other churches and organizations like Second Harvest, because they are doing them well," Winter said. "It helps the whole process to work together."
He and his staff have focused their efforts in areas in which the Brethren have expertise as well. The Brethren four-pronged response includes grants from the Emergency Disaster Fund; warehousing and shipping of relief materials from the Brethren Service Center by the Service Ministries program; Disaster Child Care; and repair and rebuilding efforts by the Disaster Response Program.
Winter also called on Brethren to maintain an understanding of the bigger picture and continue support for survivors of other disasters. "There are other needs out there, some other disasters that need to be responded to," he said, naming in particular the ongoing Brethren rebuilding projects in Florida and Ohio that still need volunteers. There also is a clean-up and repair project in Alabama in response to Hurricane Katrina.
"The main focus of the Disaster Response Program is longterm recovery," said disaster response coordinator Jane Yount, "and 'longterm' can mean months or even years. So, the question is not whether you can go three days after the disaster, but rather can you go three months or a year after the disaster--after the media blitz is over and the survivors start wondering whether anyone still cares."
This weekend, Winter will be at the Brethren Disaster Auction in Lebanon, Pa., where the number of Gift of the Heart Health Kits that organizers expect to assemble throughout the day Saturday has been upped to 25,000 from 20,000. That seems like a lot of health kits, Winter acknowledged. But looking at the situation in the Gulf Coast in anticipation of the arrival of Rita, he said with a sigh, "We'll probably use them all."
Source: 9/23/2005 Newsline
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New phone numbers are in place for volunteering.
The Emergency Response/Service Ministries office of the General Board has published new telephone numbers to call to volunteer for disaster relief work.
To volunteer at the Service Ministries warehouse at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., call 800-766-1553 ext. 1.
To volunteer for the Disaster Response Program, to take part in a clean up or rebuilding project, call your district disaster coordinator or the New Windsor office at 800-451-4407 ext. 4.
For more information on Disaster Child Care, call 800-451-4407 ext 5.
Source: 9/23/2005 Newsline
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The Emergency Response/Service Ministries office of the General Board has published new telephone numbers to call to volunteer for disaster relief work.
To volunteer at the Service Ministries warehouse at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., call 800-766-1553 ext. 1.
To volunteer for the Disaster Response Program, to take part in a clean up or rebuilding project, call your district disaster coordinator or the New Windsor office at 800-451-4407 ext. 4.
For more information on Disaster Child Care, call 800-451-4407 ext 5.
Source: 9/23/2005 Newsline
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Web page features 'What Brethren are doing to respond to Hurricane Katrina.'
A new web page has been created to feature stories of what Brethren across the country are doing in response to Hurricane Katrina. Go to www.brethren.org/genbd/ersm/HurricanePosting.htm, where news and photos of hurricane relief efforts by Church of the Brethren congregations, districts, colleges, homes, and other organizations will be posted.
Stories and photos will be added to this page regularly. Send news, stories, and photos to cobnews@aol.com. Please note that sending news and photos for use on this page also gives permission for the Church of the Brethren General Board to use any of these stories and images.
Source: 9/23/2005 Newsline
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A new web page has been created to feature stories of what Brethren across the country are doing in response to Hurricane Katrina. Go to www.brethren.org/genbd/ersm/HurricanePosting.htm, where news and photos of hurricane relief efforts by Church of the Brethren congregations, districts, colleges, homes, and other organizations will be posted.
Stories and photos will be added to this page regularly. Send news, stories, and photos to cobnews@aol.com. Please note that sending news and photos for use on this page also gives permission for the Church of the Brethren General Board to use any of these stories and images.
Source: 9/23/2005 Newsline
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Credits
Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, on every other Wednesday with other editions and updates as needed. Newsline stories may be reprinted if Newsline is cited as the source. Kathleen Campanella, Helen Stonesifer, Becky Ullom, Roy Winter, and Jane Yount contributed to this report.
Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, on every other Wednesday with other editions and updates as needed. Newsline stories may be reprinted if Newsline is cited as the source. Kathleen Campanella, Helen Stonesifer, Becky Ullom, Roy Winter, and Jane Yount contributed to this report.
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