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Disaster Response Ministry |
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News July 2010 UCC congregation provides home base for disaster response activities after June tornado
St. Peter's UCC, a 219-member congregation in the center of Millbury, Ohio, near Toledo, provided a home base for volunteer response to the June 5 tornado that extensively damaged their town. The tornado happened on a Saturday night. On the following day St. Peter’s became a focal point for much of the volunteer activity. The church, surrounded by devastation, was undamaged and promptly became a hospitality site. Meals were prepared for volunteers, some on a round-the-clock basis. Impressive quantities of donated supplies began to show up, and church members organized themselves to help in distribution. “During the days immediately following the tornado we were overwhelmed by the generosity of UCC churches in our area,” said St. Peter’s pastor, Rev. Kathryn Helleman. “We received offers from churches throughout the Northwest Ohio Association for meals, assistance with clean up and monetary donations.” In addition to the UCC support, they also received assistance from churches of several other denominations in the Lake Township Ministerium. The American Red Cross chose St. Peter’s as their operation site, which increased the level of activity. Many volunteers who came to help in cleanup work checked in at the church and were directed to places where help was needed. “The church became the focus of ‘what was happening’ in the immediate aftermath of the tornado,” said Jim Ditzler, Ohio Conference Disaster Response Coordinator. “Rev. Helleman was a walking encyclopedia of who needed what, where volunteers were needed, where people should go to get help, and what supplies were needed. Even the governor checked in at the church to get a sense of the situation.” The UCC Ohio Disaster Response Team and their Lutheran counterparts were also involved in the initial work and remain involved in the Long Term Recovery Committee which is now guiding the extended recovery efforts. Donations made by many individuals directly to St Peter's were used to establish a separate Lake Township Tornado Relief Fund, and the church will partner with the Long Term Recovery Committee (LTRC) to make decisions regarding those funds.
Much work that
will take months if not years remains to be done. Most damaged
properties have been demolished, and the work of rebuilding is
pending. Others await insurance settlements or a contractor or
volunteer who can make needed repairs. More than 500 damaged trees
must be removed. Jim Ditzler was impressed with the way that the St. Peter’s congregation put their faith into action. “This church really became what a church can be. They did a great job at it and I want others in the Conference to know that,” he said. Congregations who wish to contribute to the on-going recovery in Millbury and surrounding areas can direct a response through our Conference Disaster Response Ministries. Contact Jim Ditzler, Coordinator, by email or phone (330-262-3242).
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Church World Service Kits Needed |
| Mud-Out Trailer | |
| Gulf Coast Oil Spill Information | |
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Volunteer Work Trips |
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When a Disaster Happens How to help • Do's and Don'ts |
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About the Disaster Response Team |
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| Disaster Response Brochure | |
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UCC Website |
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| UCC Disaster Response | |
| Disaster Response Stories | |
| Safety and Health Websites for Disaster Response Workers | |
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. . . that
the Ohio Conference is one of just three organizations in the
Kit ingredient lists (PDF) - One page, easy to print . . . that
the Ohio Conference Disaster Response Ministry served as the model for the
other UCC disaster response ministries. |
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A disaster coordinator
is needed in every church.
For
local church coordinators: |
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| Outreach/Mission/Justice | ||
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Ohio Conference UCC, 6161
Busch Blvd., Suite 100, Columbus OH 43229 • 800-282-0740 • 614-885-0722 • ohioucc@ocucc.org |
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CHURCH WORLD SERVICE KITS NEEDED. Summer and hurricane season are here, and it was a busy winter and spring. Floods and tornadoes have almost depleted the Church World Service supply of clean up buckets, personal care, and school kits. These kits are a great gift to people in need. Formulas for ingredients and places to ship Hygiene Kits: http://www.churchworldservice.org/site/PageServer?pagename=kits_hygiene Clean up buckets: http://www.churchworldservice.org/site/PageServer?pagename=kits_emergency
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| Outreach/Mission/Justice | ||
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Ohio Conference UCC, 6161
Busch Blvd., Suite 100, Columbus OH 43229 • 800-282-0740 • 614-885-0722 • ohioucc@ocucc.org |
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