wfn.org | ABCUSA: ABMEN COMPLETE NYC CLEANUP

[RICH.SCHRAMM@ecunet.org]

AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS SERVICE 
Office of Communication  
American Baptist Churches USA 
P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851 
Phone: (610)768-2077 / Fax: (610)768-2320 
Web: www.abc-usa.org
Richard W. Schramm, Director 
 E-mail: richard.schramm@abc-usa.org

ABMEN VOLUNTEER RELIEF WORKERS IN NYC 
COMPLETE CLEANUP
 American Baptist Men Disaster Relief volunteers 
have finished cleaning debris from assigned apartments in 
Lower Manhattan following the Sept. 11 tragedies.  The 
effort resulted in American Baptists from across the U.S. 
coming together.
 By Nov. 17, the end of the operation which began 
Oct. 21, 159 total volunteers from 13 states had 
contributed a total of 1,042 volunteer days.  On-site 
volunteers came from 17 American Baptist regions, while 
other regions provided off-site support.  Three of the nine 
ABMen Disaster Relief trailers were dispatched to New 
York.  More than 385 apartments were cleaned, most of 
which were located in the Gateway Plaza complex near the 
former World Trade Center site.  Due to security 
restrictions, ABMen Disaster Relief was limited in the 
number of volunteers; there were approximately 20 
volunteers for every available position.
 The following regions provided on-site volunteers:  
West Virginia Baptist Convention, Philadelphia Baptist 
Association, Mid-American Baptist Churches, the American 
Baptist Churches of Vermont/New Hampshire, the 
American Baptist Churches of Maine, the American Baptist 
Churches of Pennsylvania/Delaware, the American Baptist 
Churches of New Jersey, the American Baptist Churches of 
New York State, the American Baptist Churches of 
Connecticut, the American Baptist Churches of 
Indiana/Kentucky, the American Baptist Churches of  the 
South, the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island, the 
Pittsburgh Baptist Association, American Baptist Churches 
of the Northwest, the American Baptist Churches of 
Greater Indianapolis, the American Baptist Churches of 
Metro New York and the American Baptist Churches of 
Rochester/Genesee.
 These regions have provided logistical support and 
standby volunteers: the American Baptist Churches of the 
West, the American Baptist Churches of Nebraska, the 
American Baptist Churches of Los Angeles, the American 
Baptist Churches of Pacific Southwest, the American 
Baptist Churches of Massachusetts, the American Baptist 
Churches of the Central Region, the American Baptist 
Churches of Michigan, the American Baptist Churches of 
Ohio, the American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers 
Region, and the American Baptist Churches of the Rocky 
Mountains.
 "ABMen Disaster Relief extends very special 
thanks to the ABC of Metropolitan New York and executive 
minister the Rev. James Stallings for local support," said Z. 
Allen Abbott, National Ministries' director of ABMen's 
Ministries.
 ABMen Disaster Relief is an outreach of National 
Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA and a part of its 
disaster response network.
 American Baptists interested in volunteering for a 
variety of home mission efforts are encouraged to enroll in 
the American Baptist Volunteer Skills Network by calling 
their regional office or 1-800-ABC-3USA/x2413.  For online 
enrollment visit www.abcskills.org.  

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