wfn.org | PRESBYTERIANS QUICK TO SUPPLY AID TO OKLAHOMA CITY

[PCUSA_NEWS@ecunet.org]

26-Apr-95

95133   PRESBYTERIANS QUICK TO SUPPLY AID TO OKLAHOMA CITY 
 
                          by Alexa Smith 
 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--Ten thousand dollars from the One Great Hour of Sharing 
Offering has been sent to Oklahoma City in support of long-term disaster 
recovery work there, according to Stan Hankins, Presbyterian World Service 
associate for disaster response in the United States. 
 
     The money will be dispersed as part of a $200,000 Church World Service 
(CWS) appeal and it will be used for direct victim assistance such as: 
 
     * accounts for families in local banks, including children who are now 
orphaned 
 
     * accounts for wage earners who are now, temporarily or otherwise, 
unemployed due to the bombing 
 
     * grants for counseling or relocation. 
 
     "What we are talking about is massive spiritual crisis, and it's going 
to require both short- and long-term counseling.  In human-caused 
disasters, you're talking about years," said Presbyterian elder Bob Arnold, 
associate director of CWS in New York City. 
 
     Arnold said numbers of people living and working within a half-mile 
area of the April 19 blast at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building are now 
temporarily unemployed and at least 200 are temporarily homeless. 
 
     "Virtually all the buildings are heavily damaged and may even be 
beyond repair ... some have permanently lost homes," he said, adding that 
some companies may close down or relocate businesses rather than rebuild or 
repair. 
 
     Peggy Garrett-Selfridge, who directs a Presbyterian urban mission just 
blocks from the bomb site, says Oklahoma City's downtown looks like a war 
zone. 
 
     "It takes your breath away," she said.  "It doesn't seem real." 
 
     The mission itself -- built in 1910 -- is being assessed for 
structural damage now,  and its stained-glass rose window is broken and 
cracked.  Garrett-Selfridge said the mission is picking up the client load 
of another damaged downtown agency and continuing to do its everyday work 
dispensing social services among the inner-city poor. 
 
     "It's going to take a long time to get even a semblance of order 
back," Garrett-Selfridge told the Presbyterian News Service.  "It's hit us 
in the heart, that's for sure. ... You can't drive down a street without 
seeing every car with headlights on; that's become our symbol of mourning." 
 
     Two CWS disaster specialists are in Oklahoma City:  the Rev. Peter Van 
Hook of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Lorna Jarrett of Okmulgee, Okla.  An 
interfaith disaster response team met for the first time April 24 to begin 
organizing for long-term support of both victims and care providers. 
 
     "There are going to be a lot of unmet needs," said Arnold, speaking of 
Oklahoma City over the long haul.  "And those needs not met by private and 
public agencies ... the churches will attempt to meet." 
 
     Arnold said that will include not only financial help, but help 
filling out forms and advocacy. 
 
     Garrett-Selfridge said the Presbyterian mission center is serving as a 
clearinghouse for volunteers and as a drop-off site for donations.  But the 
focus now, she said, is on caring for rescue workers and for families 
suffering losses. 
 
     "There has been an amazing outpouring of support from across the 
country, even the world," she said, noting such violence could pull a 
community apart.  "But this has been a real pulling together." 
 
     Van Hook agrees.  "This is a very strong city.  People come together 
well.  They talk about things. ... People haven't gotten to the anger stage 
yet," he said.  "They got through denial quickly. ...  Now, they're 
coping." 
 
     Presbyterian World Service has set up a relief account:  Oklahoma City 
Bombing, #9-2000120, 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY  40202-1396. 
Indian Nations Presbytery has also set up an account for relief work at 
1001 Northwest 25th St., Suite 206, Oklahoma City, OK  73106-5666. 
 
 

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For more information contact Presbyterian News Service
  Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Louisville, KY 40202
  phone 502-569-5504            fax 502-569-8073  
  E-mail PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org   Web page: http://www.pcusa.org 

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