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Central IN Responds to Disaster

By The Central District Indiana Conference
The United Methodist Church
3/7/2012

St Luke's UMC became the drop-off site for supplies needed in southern Indiana following the devastating tornadoes on March 2. Two box trucks and a semi-truck filled with water, work gloves, trash bags, plywood, paper products and other necessities have already gone to the Henryville, IN area, and more supplies are still being donated.

Local United Methodists and neighbors have been generous with donations, including the use of the trucks making the deliveries. The Bishop and District Superintendents have issued response guidelines for all who want to help, and changes in the situation will be disseminated as they become available.


disaster relief trucks

Hundreds of cases of water, plywood sheets and other supplies get loaded onto trucks

 
How can you help?

Pray. Prayers are needed for all involved.

Volunteer. As assessments and evaluations are made, we will need work teams from local churchs or Volunteer-In-Mission teams.

Give! One thing that is always needed is money and the Indiana Conference Disaster Fund (which provides some immediate support) balance is very low, and that fund will need to be multiplied many times in order to meet this need. Send your contributions, marked IN Disaster Response) to INUMC, PO Box 6089, Carol Stream, IL 60122-6089. 100% of funds received will be used for disaster relief.

What NOT to do...Don't go to southern Indiana until first responders and emergency relief efforts have evaluated and assessed what is needed in the days/weeks ahead. Untrained persons, no matter how caring, will be in the way until a plan is made and volunteers are requested. Don't send clothing until it is requested -- the immediate need is for water and personal hygiene supplies.

The truck will be at St Luke's all week.
Look for a Fed Ex truck parked in the front parking lot left of the sanctuary as you enter from 86th St

Bring these items to the truck at the church daily 9am-6pm:
Along with bottled water and trash bags, we add to the list:

  • Tubs for supplies
  • Household cleaning items
  • Heavy duty gloves (Nitrile if possible)
  • dust masks
  • N95 masks
  • Personal hygiene items such as toilet paper, femine needs, toothbrushes and paste, shampoo, soap, etc.
  • DO NOT SEND CLOTHING

  • Save yourself a drive. Call the reception center before you leave home. Volunteer needs are still being assessed. Volunteer Reception Center 723 Spring St. Jeffersonville Indiana. Open 9 to 4:30. Office phones 812-287-0519; 812-287-0522; 812-287-0523; 812-287-0521
  • Organize a Volunteer in Mission team for long term response
  • Call LeKisha Reed 877-781-6706 or email lekisha.reed@inumc.org with names of team members and what training each has (i.e. trained and badged ERTs; VIM leadership training). Right now only trained and badged ERTs are being accepted into the area.
  • When your group is ready to go contact Bonnie Albert, Conference VIM Coordinator, at bonkay@hotmail.com, bonpotee@yahoo.com or call 219-464-1447.
  • For southern Indiana in-kind donations: 700 Patrol Road, Jeffersonville, Indiana off HWY 62 Open 24/7 Office phone 812-287-0090; 812-287-0026.
  • Cash is the most helpful gift right now. Send donation to the Indiana Conference Disaster Response through your local church treasurer, or through the United Methodist Committee on Relief online at www.umcor.org. Churches (or individuals) please send all donations to INUMC, PO Box 6089, Carol Stream, IL 60122-6089, marked IN Disaster Relief.

READ NOTE SENT ON 3/3/2012