The SC Conference is moving from early response to flooding to repair and rebuild, so our needs will change a little.
We have created a bulletin insert to help your congregation understand the changing needs in our communities.
You can download the bulletin insert as a PDF here.
Many churches are asking how we can help, here are a few ways:
- Can you provide housing with a kitchen and showers for out of town Volunteers in Mission Teams, contact Chelsey Faircloth at the Conference center, 803 786-9486?
- Be sure all families or individuals with flood damage and unmet needs contact the conference office and that they file an application for assistance with FEMA and the Small Business Administration (SBA). Deadline extended to January 4, 2016.
- The recovery process will be a 2 to 4 years project, please continue to help with donations to the SC Conference flood relief fund. https://www.umcsc.org/
- Can you help get the word out? House In a Box is the response from the National Society of St. Vincent de Paul to any natural disaster affecting families with loss of household furnishings. The program provides new furniture which includes a bed, linens, up to two dressers, a sofa, a kitchen table with 4 chairs, kitchen supplies, and bathroom supplies. There is no cost to the homeowner once the approval process is completed. Families affected should come to the intake center at 3512 Devine St. in Columbia, S.C. to complete an application.
Applicants must have a FEMA number, a picture ID, and must be in need of the furniture (which will be verified with FEMA). The intake center will be open Monday-Thursday from 10-4 at least through February, 2016. If you have any questions, please contact Marilyn Gray at 803-730-1241, marilyn@gmminsurance.com or Russ Jones @ 803-254-7647, rpatjones@gmail.com.
- Can you provide small office facilities to accommodate 2-3 people helping with flood relief in specific areas. They are Charleston/Summerville, Columbia and the Florence area?
- Can you provide help with local participation such as having construction skills to do assessments, assist with acquiring building permits, delivering materials to job sites, and so on?
- Be on the lookout for future training for Early Response Teams or Volunteers in Mission teams, the workload is heavy and far from over.
- Initial contact for everything above, except House in a Box, contact Chelsey Faircloth at the Conference Center and THANK YOU! (803 786-9486.)
