Bucyrus Update from Linn

Hi Everyone!

Today we worked on consolidating, and getting things ready for Friday and Saturday. We are planning to have 10 jobs for tomorrow, and 7 jobs for Saturday. I have asked the Southern Baptist men if they would be willing to be crew leaders on Saturday for any new volunteers that may need some guidance. They are presenting it at a meeting tonight.

I believe we have 10 cases to do on Friday, and 7 more for Saturday. That does not include the ones the Southern Baptists have.

We are hoping that this will be the end of the clean up phase of this recovery process.The city will not pick up any more after the weekend.

There are still a few people who were able to deny any problems existed but have now been driven out of their homes by the stench today. Hopefully, there are no more people like this. We feel badly for these people and hope that you will continue to keep them in your prayers.

Tonight, I am thinking that we have enough volunteers for Saturday. If you are planning on bringing a crew, we will put you to work. I would like to know your group numbers so that I can be sure to have enough food ready for lunch on Saturday. Please remember to pick up your own respirators, or breathing masks. We do have some gloves. It would be helpful to bring your own tool kit, also.

Please- we still need volunteers to be thinking of ways that they can help. We will be doing painting and re-building in the very near future. JC Church and Deb Pinion are working with VOAD to begin case management, and start this next phase.

We appreciate the support that you have given us at Crawford Volunteer Flood Recovery Group. As your "founder", I deeply appreciate all of the help you have given to this effort. I do not have all of the details as to who or what the next group will be, where it will be headquartered, or even a phone number. However, I believe that our community leaders are working to make this an easy transition. More information will be coming to you soon.

Please stay in touch.

We will be here in this office through Tuesday, 9/11/07. Some of you donated the use of office furniture and supplies. Please come back in on Monday any time, and Tuesday morning to pick up what we have not used. It belongs to you, and we would like it to get back to you. Unfortunately, I do not have complete lists as to who gave what, so- I need you to come and get it yourselves. (Plus, Timken friends, there's NO way, I can move all of these desks back.)

Thanks to Ohio Mutual and Farmers Citizens also, I believe they were the primary donors of office supplies!

Ok, I will be taking tomorrow, Friday, off. I will be with my husband for his gall bladder surgery at BCH. Rachel Meade, is my right hand assistant here at HQ. Please direct inquiries to her and I will occasionally call in.

Thanks again for your prayers and support through this important work.

Linn Ash, Volunteer Coordinator

Bucyrus Current Needs as of 9-4-2007

We need relief supplies donated to the Bucyrus effort. We have caught up on demand for cleaning kits, bleach, and filter masks, but new items are now in short supply.

4 volunteer workers:

• Short handle coal shovels (flat edge)
• Brooms, Mops, and Squeegees
• Gloves
• Trash Bags

4 the relief center:

• copy machine
• toner
  
• paper
• telephones

4 victims:

• new underwear (all sizes)
  
• paper products
• diapers (all sizes)
• bedding (pillows, sheets, blankets)
  

I also need Servants Unite volunteers to survey and work in other areas affected by this flood. This is our time people. Our flood. Our neighbors. Our own back yard. If you've been on a relief trip, you are an expert and your experience is needed. Let the spirit use you to shine the light of Christ.

Other areas aren't getting the attention we've been giving to Bucyrus. I can't personally do more than what I've done here and need other experienced Servants Unite volunteers to take what we've built here to other affected areas as well as continuing to help organize here. FEMA reps stopped by our office Saturday and told Linn that they have not found a better organized volunteer operation in their experience. Linn and the local organizers have done an awesome job of beginning to care for their community.

Southern Baptist volunteers are in from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia. Christian Appalachian Project is here from near Lexington, Kentucky. Other local residents are also working this week. Your help is desperately needed to continue cleaning out the 240 backlogged requests we have waiting this morning.

Servants Unite!

John McGuire

Labor (of love) Day

Yea, that’s pretty cheesy. Sorry about that, but I can’t think of anything cooler.

The tide has definitely shifted in Bucyrus since last weekend. We’ve gone from seeking work from residents to receiving repeated calls for immediate assistance. We have a large backlog of jobs (hundreds) and only 20 volunteers working in homes Saturday. Tuesday morning we had 4 calls backlogged. By evening it was up to 48. Wednesday evening, we had 250. What changed? Mold grew. Additionally, people are coming out of the shock of what happened to them and how desperate their situations really are.

Monday is Labor Day. Please consider bringing your family, friends, church members, coworkers, and others to help recover from this disaster that has hit all too close to home.

The volunteer center is at 1305 Mansfield Street, Bucyrus, Ohio 44280. The phone number there is 419-562-3777.

Call to let us know you are coming and how many are in you group and show up there to sign in and get work assignments.

Servants Unite!