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Ways to assist Louisiana

8/22/2016

MMDC loading flood buckets for LouisianaBy Bunny Wolfe
The Louisiana Annual Conference has established a registration center for assistance in the flood recovery.  For information go to  www.la-umc.org .  On the Louisiana Conference home page, individuals or teams may choose to (a) Donate Money, (b) Donate Resources or (c) Volunteer. 

If you wish to volunteer, you must register by providing your full contact information, the type of volunteer work you wish to do and your anticipated date of arrival. The LA Conference is requesting volunteers for the  following tasks:  (a) Clean, muck out and remove debris from flood damaged homes, (b) Prepare food for volunteers, (c) Serve food to volunteers, (d) Paper and office work, (c)  Distribute supplies in a relief shelter or (d) Rebuild/repair flood damaged homes.

Once you register your team, please do not go until your team has been confirmed by the Louisiana Conference volunteer coordinators. They will do their best to connect you and your team to a place where you will do the most good. Someone will be in touch with you to let you know where your team will be working.

Once IGRC volunteer team leaders have contacted the LA Conference and a date for a volunteer team is confirmed, you may register your team on the IGRC website for others to join the team. Please send the following information to Paul Black at PBlack@igrc.org  (a) name of team leader, (b) e-mail and phone of team leader, (c) volunteer trip dates, (d) type of work planned, (e) any specific skill sets required and (f) cost of the trip.  These postings will appear at: http://www.igrc.org/missionopportunities?topic=Disaster%20Response

While volunteers are quick to enter damaged areas as soon as possible,  please keep in mind the need for volunteers for rebuilding and repair will be ongoing for months, if not years. United Methodist volunteers are known to continue with work in damaged areas long after all other volunteers have left and moved on to the next disaster damaged areas. Your team might be needed more early winter or next summer.

Thanks for your passion to help those in need.

Donate through UMCOR

The flooding from heavy rainfall last weekend in Louisiana claimed at least seven lives and prompted the rescue of more than 20,000 people. Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey estimates at least a dozen United Methodist churches have flood damage.  Many church members have major flood damage to their homes.
 
As UMCOR assists people affected by recent Louisiana floods, churches in IGRC may donate to Advance #901670 – U.S. Disaster Response Fund.
 
If IGRC churches wish to donate directly to the Louisiana Annual Conference, donations may also be sent to the following address:
 
Louisiana Annual Conference
Attn: Flood Buckets
527 North Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
 
Please note "AUGUST 2016 FLOOD" in the memo field.

Collect cleaning bucket supplies

The Midwest Mission Distribution Center has shipped two shipments of 2,000 cleaning buckets each time to Louisiana. Their inventory of supplies is depleted and there is an urgent appeal for cleaning bucket items. Because each bucket has to be verified, it is easier to collect the items for the cleaning buckets rather than assemble them yourself. Here are the items needed by MMDC:
These supplies enable people to begin the overwhelming job of cleaning up after a flood or hurricane.
Cleaning Bucket Value: $65 per bucket
  • 5-gallon bucket with resealable lid. Buckets from fast-food restaurants or bakeries can be used if washed and cleaned; Do not use buckets that have stored chemicals such as paint or pool cleaner; Advertisements on the outside are acceptable.
  • Liquid laundry detergent. One 50-oz. or two 25-oz. bottle(s) only.
  • Liquid household cleaner. 12-16 oz. liquid cleaner that can be mixed with water; No spray cleaners.
  • Dish soap. 16-28 oz. bottle any brand.
  • 1 can air freshener. Aerosol or pump.
  • 1 insect repellant spray. 6-14 oz. aerosol or spray pump with protective cover.
  • 1 scrub brush. Plastic or wooden handle.
  • 18 cleaning wipes. Handi Wipes or reusable wipes; No terry cleaning towels; Remove from packaging.
  • 7 sponges. No cellulose sponges due to mold issues; Remove from wrapper.
  • 5 scouring pads. Remove from wrapper; No stainless steel, Brillo pads, or SOS pads (nothing with soap built in).
  • 50 clothespins
  • Clothesline. One 100-ft. or two 50-ft. lines; Cotton or plastic.
  • 24-roll heavy-duty trash bags. 33- to 45-gallon sizes; Remove from the box.
  • 5 dust masks
  • 2 pairs kitchen dishwashing gloves. Should be durable enough for multiple uses; Remove from packaging.
  • 1 pair work gloves. Cotton with leather palm or all leather.

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