The appeal to congregations and conferences made following late summer tropical storms and hurricanes has netted a bounty of clean-up buckets.

Florence Coppola, executive for National Disaster Ministries, believes the response has exceeded the original call for 1,001 buckets. "Our local churches have taken this request for buckets seriously for which I am grateful," she said.

Coppola praised conference disaster ministries that made the clean-up effort a priority. "Our conferences see this as a commitment; they have led the way in raising awareness to their congregations and making clean-up buckets available to National Disaster Ministries.

"Many of our conferences are able to store any kits that are not needed immediately," she said. "We appreciate the fact that these buckets are there and can go to multiple areas of need."

An example she cites is the Ohio Conference's delivery of 500 clean-up buckets and 300 personal care kits to Pointe-au-Chien Tribal Indian Community in southern Louisiana where nearly every home was damaged by Hurricane Gustav.

'Plastic bucket' award

National Disaster Ministries has issued an appeal for congregations and conferences to report the number of clean-up buckets assembled and shipped to Church World Service. 

A "plastic bucket" award will be presented to the conference and the congregation that has prepared the most clean-up kits. Coppola asked that she be emailed directly <coppolaf@ucc.org> with these totals prior to the Oct. 27 Church World Service Emergency Response Program Executive Committee meeting.

Coppola recognized the great needs that have been presented to National Disaster Ministries this year – flooding in the Midwest this spring, tropical storms and hurricanes – and praised the generous response from UCC churches and conferences.  "Thank you to all who have helped to promote this great gift to communities impacted by disaster," she said.

Cleanup kit information can be found at <churchworldservice.org>