ERT member Gene Claypoole works to remove water damaged drywall in the parsonage at Nichols UMC.
Nichols Relief work blitz. Dec 2nd-3rd
Interested, register online at https://www.umcsc.org/data/nicholsrelief.php
Looking for a way to escape the incessant commercialism of this holiday season? Something that would make a true impact on someone’s life?
Well, The Blitz is on!
The South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church has scheduled a two-day “Work Blitz” for Dec. 2-3 in the town of Nichols, where nearly every home, business and church – including Nichols UMC – was affected in some way by historic flooding that followed Hurricane Matthew.
Need help? Call the disaster response hotline of the S.C. Conference of the United Methodist Church at 800-390-4911 or email screcovery@umcsc.org. Spanish-language hotline: 844-344-2270.
“The devastation in Nichols is overwhelming for hundreds of individuals, but also for the community at large,” said Matt Brodie, the conference’s disaster response coordinator. “Everything has been affected, from homes to businesses, including every church in town.
“This is a chance for us to come together and be Christ in action, to wrap this community in love and prayer and hard work, and lift them back up onto their feet.”
The idea is simple: Recruit as many volunteers as possible – individuals, church groups, Sunday school classes, etc. – to come to Nichols, which is just east of Mullins in the Marion District, and put them to work on as many houses as we can. There is no limit to the need.
The only requirement is that you must be 18 or older. We need volunteers of any skill level. If you can carry something from Point A to Point B, we can use you. Specially trained S.C. UMC Early Response Team leaders will be on hand to guide the work.
Please bring your own tools and equipment, if possible: hammer, prybar, gloves, protective eyewear, and closed-toed shoes. ERT leaders will provide protective masks and all the expertise you need.
Individuals and teams will be “mucking out” homes – tearing out ruined drywall and flood-soaked flooring – and performing other needed work.
“We’re dealing with a lot of emotion and trauma in this town,” said George Olive, disaster response coordinator for the Marion District of the conference. “This town cannot survive without help.”
Volunteers can work one day or both. Arrangements for housing, as needed, are being worked out.
Interested, register online at https://www.umcsc.org/data/nicholsrelief.php
Have questions? Email Matt Brodie at mbrodie@umcsc.org, or call the Conference Center at 803-786-9486. Or contact the disaster response coordinator in your district.
If you can’t make it to the Dec. 2-3 event but you still want to help, we’ll be scheduling other “Work Blitz” weekends in other communities around the state where the need is great.
How else can you help?
- Volunteers are desperately needed to serve on or with Early Response Teams at all times. For more information, contact Chuck Marshall at 864-216-1876 or sp_disasterresponse@umcsc.org.
- Donate financially to the S.C. Conference’s disaster relief efforts and to UMCOR’s Advance U.S. Disaster Response, which allows the United Methodist Committee on Relief to respond quickly and appropriately to emergencies in the United States.
- Pray for the safety of those affected by the storm, emergency responders, Early Response Teams and others providing relief efforts.
