GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Two years ago, when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (www.crwrc.org <http://www.crwrc.org/> ) and many other relief organizations, responded by delivering emergency supplies, collecting donated goods, repairing homes, and preparing to receive evacuees expected from the debris.
Today, CRWRC has provided nearly $4 million in post-Katrina aid involving cleanup, assessments, and construction and an additional $2 million is committed to ongoing reconstruction.
Since the day Katrina hit, 5,000 volunteers have repaired and restored 2,000 homes and properties along the Gulf. Families, couples, youth and church groups have given anywhere from a week to three months of their time to repair roofs, replace and finish moldy walls and ceilings, replace floors, and rebuild entire houses.
CRWRC volunteers also work with local long-term recovery organizations in the Gulf to complete home reconstruction, and provide leadership training and financial resources.
CRWRC volunteers, known as "Green Angels" for their bright green T-shirts, prepare construction estimates, work on developing financial control systems, develop recovery plans and identify unmet needs with local organizations.
But CRWRC reports that it has requests for another $1 million in additional Katrina reconstruction work that are not yet funded.
"There are 49 homes that have been approved for repair and are awaiting reconstruction," says Macy Craft of Pine Belt Restoration in Laurel, Miss. Plus, 350 more clients have applied but we don't have the resources to help them."
In the next year, CRWRC will continue working in its four reconstruction sites Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, and plans to open a fifth site near New Orleans, and it is seeking financial gifts to continue supporting long-term recovery organizations.
Dale Kimball, executive director of Northshore Disaster Recovery (NRDI), in Slidell, La., says, "CRWRC has been with us from the beginning, providing valuable leadership and expertise. NDRI considers CRWRC one of our most valued assets.
"Your organization's reputation in Slidell is one of dedication and service. The impact of your work has affected not just those families whose homes you have repaired, but entire neighborhoods. CRWRC's long-term commitment has inspired others continue supporting our recovery efforts, and we are grateful for your example."
In October, 2007, CRWRC will begin a year-long home-building blitz with plans to build 10 new homes using all volunteer labor.
"We are challenging volunteers to commit to work and fund the construction of a 900-square-foot home for a needy family displaced by Katrina," says Art Opperwall, CRWRC Disaster Response Services (DRS) group manager.
A group of churches from Holland, Mich., was the first to accept a three-week home-building challenge to kick-off the event. Skilled and unskilled volunteers from nearly 30 churches are being organized to build a home in Hattiesburg, Miss., in partnership with CRWRC-DRS and the Hattiesburg long-term recovery organization.
The blitz will focus on rebuilding homes in the five site areas along the Gulf where CRWRC is or will be working to help communities that lack adequate volunteer and financial resources to meet their needs.
For information about volunteer opportunities in CRWRC-DRS Home-Building Blitz, contact Art Opperwall, group manager, at 1-800-848-5818 or email opperwaa@crcna.org.
To make a financial donation to CRWRC-DRS, mark your check "Katrina Response" and mail it to CRWRC, 2850 Kalamazoo Ave., S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49560-0600, or call 1-800-55-CRWRC. To give online, visit www.crwrc.org <http://www.crwrc.org/> .
CRWRC is a non-profit organization of the Christian Reformed Church in North America providing a ministry of development, relief, and justice education to people in need around the world.
-30-
...................
Henry Hess
Director of Communication
Christian Reformed Church
To learn more about the Christian Reformed Church visit us at www.crcna.org <http://www.crcna.org
"It is a serious waste to let a day go by without allowing God to change us."-Richard Rolle, The Fire of Love