Disaster Relief Changes Again

After the first of the year, we will have an urgent need for knowledgeable construction leads to guide our teams. I can name 10 who have worked with us, but there may be more and you all know several each from church or you circle of friends. We need your help to engage these people in our effort to make our teams effective as we enter a new phase in our efforts on the gulf coast.

We've been through two phases in this relief effort so far. Immediate relief was providing food, personal care, baby care, cleaning kits, water, brush clearing, and some demucking as well as spiritual and psychological support. Since last January our primary work has been demucking and clearing of debris from homes. Beginning as soon as team 20, which leaves December 26, our work is switching over to reconstruction. While anyone can rip down drywall and shovel muck from homes, it takes some skilled construction leads to help us rebuild with minimal waste of precious time and materials.

We learned this with Ella's house in Slidell. We had some knowledgeable people for the drywall, finishing, and cabinets, but then on of our crews had to clean up some paint issues in the end before she and Brian could move back in. We have a lot more Ella's in our future gang and need as many skilled people as possible in our teams. My hope is at least 1 skilled craftsman for every 5 unskilled volunteers and one high end general construction lead per team.

We will also be working with different hosting organizations. While Hilltop Rescue will be closing down their facility at the school in Chalmette, familiar people who have taken such great care of us down there will still be in the mix with new partners in the disaster zone. I'll be working to build those relationships over the coming weeks and intensely while I'm down with team 20 after Christmas. Watch for updates and pictures on the blog and in email.

We will also be looking for local opportunities. I'm hoping to get skilled help in cooperation with Habitat and have started pursuing that. It's always been a goal of mine for this organization to put our might behind their construction projects so look for day long, weekend volunteer opportunities to be offered locally.

We're also looking for other projects where we can help other local mission organizations and connecting with county emergency management heads in central Ohio. Our communities need many of the same services we have been providing to Louisiana storm victims. We've proven the worth of our efforts through those gracious recipients 1000 miles away. We can do the same work, more conveniently in our own community.

Let me know about your favorite local volunteer opportunities.

Servants Unite!

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1 Peter 4:10, Mark 12:30-31, Mathew 9:36-38, Romans 12:4-8

John McGuire
www.ServantsUnite.org
614-523-3996 home
614-404-8610 cel