Churches Of Christ Helping In Flood
A tractor-trailer rig full of groceries and emergency supplies was more than the 40-member Lothair Church of Christ in Hazard, Ky., could fit in its building.
So church members eager to help struggling neighbors in flood-stricken Appalachia unloaded the truck Saturday morning at nearby East Perry Elementary School.
By midafternoon, the congregation had given away most of the roughly 300 food boxes provided by Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort Inc. in Nashville, Tenn., minister Larry Hendrix said.
They brought wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, clothes for men and women, personal hygiene stuff, said Hendrix, the Lothair churchs preacher since 2002.
Everybody was so appreciative and happy, the minister said of those helped. Its a sad situation.
In Hazard, Ky., volunteers distribute food boxes provided by Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort Inc. in Nashville, Tenn.
The rapid distribution illustrates the extreme need after torrential rains that led to flash flooding claimed at least 37 lives in eastern Kentucky.
That number will continue to grow and to be refined, Gov. Andy Beshear said Saturday, when the official death toll stood at 25. Remember, we dont have cell service in some areas, so please be patient as we get new information or as it changes. We continue to pray for the families that have suffered an unfathomable loss.
Extensive flooding also hit parts of western Virginia and southern West Virginia.
We Respond In Times Of Need
How our effort works
The Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort immediately responds to any major disaster in the United States, and US Territories by sending truckloads of emergency food, water, cleaning, and other supplies to be distributed to all disaster victims in the disaster area through a local Church of Christ. We are a non-profit corporation, tax-exempt from state and federal income taxes under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code as an organization described in section 501. The organization has fifteen employees consisting of an office staff, a warehouse crew, and 5 men who travel across the country telling local congregations about the work of Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort. Most important are our unpaid volunteer workers and volunteer truck drivers. They are the secret to the success of our organization.
History
Mission
Who supports us?
Volunteers
Who gets help?
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Strict guidelines apply to type of disaster
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We contact local leadership and emergency management to evaluate the situation
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We work with the local Church of Christ congregations in setting up distribution centers in the disaster area
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We follow up to see that all areas are covered
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All cases are checked out, not an individual benevolent fund
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Anyone at site can receive assistance regardless of race, color, creed, or religious preference.
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Ready immediately to respond to emergencies with organized preparation, distribution, and follow-up..
We are Cost Effective
Distribution of Supplies
Disaster Relief / Assistance
How Our Effort Works The Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort immediately responds to any major disaster in the continental United States by sending truckloads of emergency food, water, cleaning, and other supplies to be distributed to all disaster victims in the disaster area through a local Church of Christ. We are a non-profit corporation, tax-exempt from state and federal income taxes under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code as an organization described in section 501. The organization has fifteen employees consisting of an office staff, a warehouse crew, and 5 men that travel across the country telling local congregations about the work of Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort. So most importantly, our unpaid volunteer workers, and volunteer truck drivers are the secret to the success of our organization.
Who Supports Us?Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort is voluntarily supported by Churches of Christ, individuals, corporations, and other non-profit agencies nationwide. Many congregations have COCDRE in their monthly budget. In 2014, 668 congregations in 39 states plus the District of Columbia, and 2,938 individuals or families from 47 states plus DC supported us financially. In addition, many leading corporations from across the country matched the donation gifts of their employees that support us, along with donating substantial amounts of product.
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Recent Global H.O.P.E. Monthly E-News Issues are Indexed Here
We change lives with paint, a new floor, spackling, drywall. Lynn P. Lampman, Havertown, Pa.
The Global H.O.P.E. team facilitates the UCCs response to natural and human-caused disasters across the United States and its territories and around the world.
Hand in hand with our Partners in Service and other volunteers , congregations, conferences and partnerships, including a network of Conference Disaster Coordinators, UCC Disaster Ministries seeks to serve the most vulnerable populations, focusing on disaster preparedness, identifying and meeting unmet needs, and spiritual and emotional support. Its Willing to Respond network equips churches to protect themselves and love their neighbors in time of disaster.
The growing UCC Emotional and Spiritual Care in Disaster Network is building the work the UCC already is doing to extend care to survivors of natural and human-caused disasters.
The UCC is an active member of National VOAD , through which we partner with dozens of organizations, large and small, for holistic, community-based recovery.
Get involved in UCC Disaster Ministries! Contact Lesli Remaly , UCC Minister for Disaster Response and Recovery, for more information.
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If Your Community Is Affected By A Disaster:
A MARC will be established in your area. Even if you think you will have insurance and other resources to cover all your losses, it is important to register with the MARC. It is VERY IMPORTANT to take these steps in the correct order, otherwise, you may cause yourself to be ineligible for some programs.
Business owners, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters may be eligible for low-interest disaster loans or for qualified homeowners and renters, disaster grants help pay for basic repairs to make a home habitable, temporary rental assistance, and serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other sources from the U.S. Small Business Administration to help recover from losses not covered by insurance, grants or other sources. SBAs Customer Service Center : 800-659-2955 or 800-877-8339 TTY or .
How to Register Online
Visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov and follow the steps listed on the website.
How to Register with a Smart Phone
How to Register by Phone
How to Register In-Person
Visit a Disaster Recovery Center and speak to a FEMA specialist one-on-one. To find the nearest DRC, go online to FEMA.gov/DRC.
Make Contact
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The Best Way To Assist Those In Need Is To Donate Money
TOTAL VALUE of Goods GIVEN as of Nov 10th, 2022 is: 231 shipments to 48 Townships/Counties in 16 StatesA value of $7,699,099.55
In 2021 we provided a VALUE of GOODS GIVEN = $7,173,551.46
Your donations allow us to purchase needed supplies in large volume, at extreme discounts, whenever we need them. We are able to stretch your donation dollar to buy 3-4 times what you could purchase at retail prices. We don’t have to wait for donated goods to come in before we can send supplies out. Plus, we keep between 20 to 30 shipments of supplies in our warehouse all of the time, so we are already prepared for the next disaster. Youre donations will help us replenish what weve already sent to families in need. We dont need donations earmarked for a specific area in the US or US Territories before we will help them. We will be in touch with an area as soon as possible, in the case of hurricanes we will call congregations before the hurricane has made land fall, to tell them were waiting on their phone call. If an area needs help, we will send supplies as quickly as the local church tells us theyre ready to to them to be delivered. In most cases we will help an area within a day or two of the disaster, so your donations help us replenish the supplies we already had ready to send, so we can continue to help others.
Churches Of Christ Disaster Relief Effort Inc
- Address410 ALLIED DR
- Hours8:00 am-4:00 pm, Monday-Friday
- Area Served:California
- Application Process:Call for more information
- Eligibility Requirements:Limited to disaster victims. No Documents Required
- Payment/Insurance Accepted:Please contact provider for accepted forms of payment.
- ADA Access:Not Applicable
Tell us about the person you’re helping:
- Please contact provider for languages spoken by staff.
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What We Aim To Solve
People displaced from their homes after a major disaster may have a local shelter to go to, but they may have just lost all the other personal items, and all basic necessities they need. They don’t need random items that others send that have to be set out on tables and require the victims to hunt for what what they need. Plus families that have just been through a major loss don’t want a bunch of used items others think they’ll want. And what about low-income uninsured families, what do they do when they get another place to live? They may have lost everything they owned, with no insurance to help replace those items. After a major disaster, first they need the basics, but after the immediate need is met, what do low-income, uninsured families do that just lost everything, and are trying to start over?