 Linda (right above) and Robert Leon receive a handmade quilt from members of Eaton (Ohio) Church of the Brethren. The Leon family lost everything in the northwest Indiana flood, and have had their home rebuilt through Brethren Disaster Ministries’ project in Hammond, Ind. Making quilts for disaster survivors has become a tradition for the Eaton congregation. For more photos from Brethren Disaster Ministries project sites: Hammond, Ind. http://www.brethren.org/site/PhotoAlbumUser?view=UserAlbum&AlbumID=14053 Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Blitz Build American Samoa Delphi/Winamac, Ind. Chalmette, La. Photo above by Lois Kime |
“The cycle of disaster recovery continues as projects are completed and new ones open,” said this week’s report from Brethren Disaster Ministries. The report from coordinator Jane Yount announced that a rebuilding project in Winamac, Ind., has now been completed, and gave a first report from a new project site in Tennessee.
The final home rebuild at the Winamac project was completed by the end of January, except for a powered lift for a member of the homeowner’s family. The project repaired and rebuilt homes affected by flooding.
The local recovery group, DANI, has almost raised the $10,000 needed for the cost of the lift, Yount reported. “We were particularly amazed and heartened to learn that Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren adult Sunday school classes raised $650 toward the lift,” she added. “Thank you to any of you who donated and/or raised funds for this need.”
The new project site that was started in Ashland, Tenn., on Jan. 30 this year is in response to flood damage. Three days of heavy rain in May 2010 dropped as much as 20 inches of water on Tennessee, causing severe flooding from Nashville to Memphis and completely submerging many homes. In this area, 578 households are in need of assistance, including 41 homes destroyed and 76 in need of major repair.
“Project leader Jerry Moore reports that the work (in Tennessee) is going really well,” Yount wrote. Brethren Disaster Ministries volunteers in Tennessee are doing repair work and some new construction. Major repair work includes insulation, drywall, laminate flooring, painting, trim work, siding, and decks.
A third Brethren Disaster Ministries project site continues in Chalmette, La., following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. This project carried out in cooperation with the local organization St. Bernard Project, is expected to close in June this year.
For information about Brethren Disaster Ministries and how to volunteer with the program, go to www.BrethrenDisasterMinistries.org or contact a district disaster coordinator.
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