wfn.org | ABCUSA: ABMEN DISASTER RELIEF TEAMS INVOLVED IN NYC CLEAN-UP

[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

AMERICAN BAPTIST MEN DISASTER RELIEF TEAMS 
PARTICIPATE IN NEW YORK CITY CLEAN-UP
 In partnership with the American Red Cross, 
ABMen Disaster Relief will commence clean-up operations 
in Lower Manhattan on Oct. 22.  ABMen Disaster Relief 
Trailers and groups of volunteers from New York State, 
Pennsylvania/Delaware and West Virginia are being 
dispatched immediately. The New England trailer and 
contingent will arrive Nov. 2.
 Up to six crews with six volunteers each will be 
cleaning apartments filled with dust and ash since Sept. 
11.  Apartment tenants will be working with the 
volunteers. The effort, based at the Brooklyn Naval Yard, 
will last four weeks.
 "This situation exceeds anything the U.S. disaster 
relief community has ever dealt with," said ABMen's 
Ministries Director Z. Allen Abbott.  "In scale and scope 
this will be an immense and long-term operation."
 Recruiting continues for volunteers who can 
commit to one or more weeks of service.  All tools, 
equipment, accommodations and meals are provided.  
Those wishing to volunteer should immediately contact 
their regional ABMen Disaster Relief coordinators or 
ABMen president.  Contacts are listed at 
www.nationalministries.org/ABMen, under "Leadership." 
 In addition to working with the Red Cross, ABMen 
Disaster Relief is a Class-A member of the National VOAD 
(Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster).  A member of 
the ABC Disaster Response Network, ABMen Disaster 
Relief also works closely with American Baptist regions and 
National Ministries' Volunteers In Mission.  
 The American Baptist Churches of Metro New York 
has a disaster relief network in place to address the 
variety of needs resulting from the Sept. 11 attacks.
 American Baptists interested in volunteering in a 
variety of specific ways can enroll in the Volunteer Skills 
Network by calling 1-800-ABC-3USA/x2413. Online 
enrollment is available at www.abcskills.org. The Network 
is a searchable database that matches volunteers with 
requests for assistance. 

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