Midwest Floods & Tornadoes

U.S. Midwest Flooding and Tornadoes, 2007-2008

Thank you for your willingness to offer your volunteer service in response to flooding in the MidWest.

Now is the time. You are needed for flood recovery.

Linton, Indiana (Greene County)
Saron United Church of Christ in Linton, Indiana in Greene County (southwest Indiana) is ready to receive disaster recovery groups. Your service will accompany people in this disaster recovery and aid the sustainability of the area’s farm economy.

Registration and contact information - Click Here.

There are currently disaster volunteer opportunities in the following states.

Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Minnesota
Wisconsin

Illinois, Local Volunteer Opportunities

Contact Illinois Conference UCC Disaster Coordinators for information about Illinois volunteer openings.
Ben McNeal aandbmc@msn.com or Robert Tripp rjtripp@ameritech.net

Indiana - Disaster Recovery Mission Trip Groups Needed
You are Needed for Flood Recovery

Linton, Indiana (Greene County)
Saron United Church of Christ in Linton, Indiana in Greene County (southwest Indiana) is ready to receive disaster recovery groups.

Your service will accompany people in this disaster recovery and aid the sustainability of the area’s farm economy.

Time Period: Volunteers should plan to arrive on Sunday evening and depart Saturday morning.

Flexibility is always necessary.

Volunteer groups are needed during the repair/rebuilding phases of recovery. Registration for Repair/Rebuild Disaster Recovery for the fall of 2008 and spring of 2009 will be available on-line soon. At this time, to register contact UCC Volunteer Ministries office at dickend@ucc.org or 866-822-8224 ext 3216

Contact to Schedule
Diane Dicken, Administrative Assistant for Volunteer Ministries office
e-mail: dickend@ucc.org
Phone: 866-822-8224 ext 3216 or 216-736-3216
On-Site Project Information: Contact Mike Roth at saronchurch-mike@sbcglobal.net

Group Size
Up to 20 people per week

Cost
$50/person/week or $10/person/day
Payable to Saron United Church of Christ, to offset utility and program costs.

Minimum Age
15 years
Adult to Youth Ratio 1:5

Accommodations
Groups stay at Saron United Church of Christ, Linton, IN.
440 First Street NE
Linton, IN 47441
Groups bring their own air mattresses and sleeping bags. Showers and commercial kitchen are available on-site. Groups prepare their own meals. Laundromat available in town.

Forms
Download waiver and skill level forms here.
Skill Level Form
Adult Waiver Form
Youth age 15-18 Waiver Form
Send skill level forms 2 to 3 weeks before arrival to Rev. Mike Roth, Saron UCC, 440 First Street NE, Linton, IN 47441. Waiver forms may be sent or brought with you, Forms required before work begins.

Indiana, Local Volunteer Opportunities
Bartholomew County (southeast Indiana)
Flood Clean up
Contact: Volunteer Reception Center, United Way Center, 812-314-2344 during Office Hours 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Location: 1531 13th Street, Columbus, IN 47201

Accomodations: Local volunteers only. Parking is available.

Iowa Flood Relief - 2008
Clean Up!!!

Local Volunteers needed. Register with the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service and identify service opportunities at http://flood2008.iowa.gov/index.php?topic=volunteer

Greensburg, Kansas, Recovery from April 2007 Tornado
Habitat for Humanity Project
Wichita Habitat for Humanity is preparing to build at least three homes in Greensburg, KS. Three homes will start construction July 24^th and will be completed on/by August 23^rd. The total project will need between 1,650 and 1,980 volunteers to complete the three houses. The affiliate will work Tuesday – Saturday, 8:30- 4:30 pm with about 25-30 people volunteering a day per house. Experience not needed and tools are provided. Bringing basic hand tools, if available, is welcomed, but not required.

Contact: Wichita Habitat for Humanity, Phone: (316)269-0755 On-line registration, VolunteerUp at www.wichitahabitat.org

Accomodations: Housing for volunteers can be made available if needed. Inquire with registration.
                           Volunteers will need to make arrangement for food during their time in Greensburg, KS.
                           Gatorade and water will be available on site.

About Wichita Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity International is a non-profit ecumenical Christian housing ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in Americus, Ga., in 1976, Habitat has built more than 300,000 houses in nearly 100 countries, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1 million people. Habitat homes are sold at no profit and purchased by low-income households through no-profit 0%-interest mortgages. The Wichita Habitat for Humanity affiliate, founded in 1986, has built 92 homes in the Sedgwick County area and has plans to build 16 in 2008.

Greensburg, Kansas, Recovery from April 2007 Tornado
Opportunities through the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Greensburg Mission Station

The Disciples mission station near Greensburg, Kan., is now open. First Christian Church, Pratt and Kinsley, are hosting volunteer groups who want to help rebuild that devastated region after the April 2007 tornado. Rebuilding is now underway and if you would like to help, contact Tod Iseminger (888) 346-2631.

Rushford, Minnesota, Response to Spring 2008 Floods
Church of the Brethren Project
The United Church of Christ and Church of the Brethren work closely together in disaster response and recovery.

Work has begun on building new homes. Work will consist of but may not be limited to framing, roofing, insulation, drywall, flooring, cabinets, and painting. The Church of the Brethren Illinois/Wisconsin District is providing a tool trailer on site. Certain tools are being provided by the long-term recovery group. Volunteers are welcome to bring some of their own tools.

Contact: Brethren Disaster Ministries Phone: 1-800-451-4407 E-Mail: bdm_gb@brethren.org

Cost: Volunteers provide own travel. Church of the Brethren provides housing and meals.

Minimum Age: 15 years (14 if accompanied by a parent). Youth groups must include an appropriate ratio of 1 adult advisor for every 4 youth of each gender.

Accomodations:

Housing: St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
(June through August) 104 E. North Street, P.O. Box 522

Rushford, MN 55971

Volunteers sleep on bunks with mattresses. Volunteers should bring their own bedding or sleeping bag and towels. Housing may be shared with other volunteer groups.

Directions: Take Interstate 90 either from the West or East To exit 249 (just south of Winona, MN or just North of Rushford). Exit 249 is Minnesota State Hwy. 43. Go South on Hwy. 43 to Rushford, approx. 10 miles. Hwy. 43 becomes Mill Street in Rushford. After crossing Rush Creek, go 1 or 2 blocks and turn left on North Street. It is a half block to St. Mark’s, a redwood color stained church on the right (south) side of the street. Enter the basement through the rear door on the right side.

Meals: Cooked meals are provided for both breakfast and lunch. Supper may consist of sandwiches or a cooked meal from a local church.

Transportation: Volunteers may be asked to use their own vehicles on project to go back and forth between the housing facility and the work site. Volunteers can be reimbursed for project-related fuel costs or mileage upon request.

Required Forms: Brethren Disaster Ministries is working closely with Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) on this project. LDR has requested that all volunteers fill out the Volunteer Application and the Liability Form. The BDM Volunteer Registration and release forms are also required.
Brethren Disaster Ministries Liability Release Form

For youth under age 19, the following signed forms are required.
Authorization of Consent to Emergency Care of Minor
Assumption of Risk Agreement and Release
See the Brethren Disaster Ministry's Policy on Minors as Volunteers for more detailed information.

Wisconsin, Volunteer Opportunities

Check back here for long term repair/rebuild volunteer opportunities when they become available.