With Luther Disaster Response

In January 2005, three members from CtK spent three weeks providing relief with the Lutheran Episcopal Disaster Response.  This trip was made possible by a grant by the CtK Endowment.

Below are just a few of the pictures.  Click on the pictures for a full size picture

On 1/14/06 Dale Schlosnagle, Bob Roe and I left for sunny Mississippi. It was Dale's idea to go to Mississippi to help with Hurricane Katrina disaster relief. He arranged for us to work with Lutheran Episcopal Disaster Response coordinated on site by Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Ocean Springs, Miss. We were fortunate to stay with a congregational member Evelyn, age 86. We were the third group to stay with her since the hurricane struck in Aug. 2005. Dale was especially happy with our accommodations when he got a look at the church auditorium where 70 volunteers slept on cots and shared 2 showers for boys, 2 showers for girls. Or we could have been assigned cots in "Tent City" with Porta-Potties and a shower in a shed. We did have our meals at the church with all the other volunteers who came from dozens of other states, mostly Christians but some people who don't know Jesus yet but just wanted to help. Volunteers stayed a few days or weeks or months.
After morning devotions at the church, we got out work assignments. Dale, Bob and I worked to restore the bedroom of a mobile home by replacing all walls and ceiling panels and replacing electrical fixtures and outlets. The owner Debbie and her two little girls were able to move back into their home when we finished. Then we worked on Mrs. Bowman's house. She was 90 years old. The house had been completely redone- new drywall, kitchen cabinets, and flooring before we arrived. We installed all molding, baseboards, and new doors throughout. After getting a new furnace, she was also able to move back into her home, about 4 blocks from the ocean shore. Just 2 blocks south of her house, the houses were completely washed away- only the cement slabs were left.
The volunteers were all surprised to see how much rebuilding is left to do. Hundreds of roofs are still covered with blue plastic tarp. Hundreds of residents live in travel trailers- provided by FEMA- parked in their driveways because the house is not inhabitable.
The second week in Miss. I abandoned Dale and Bob to finish Mrs. Bowman's house and went to work at the Distribution Warehouse. At the warehouse, we gave away boxes of food, sets of dishes, bed sheets, towels, blankets, clothing, hygiene items and anything else they asked for which someone might have donated. About 130 cars came each day for donations, A social worker in the building saw 35 clients daily. Each night we had to cover all the tables of donations with tarps because the warehouse roof was badly damaged by the hurricane. On Friday, Dale and Bob came to work in the warehouse with me. Sue Henry, a non-Christian who is volunteering for 2 months, is in charge of the warehouse. Please pray for her that she comes to see Jesus in the volunteers and clients she works with.
After working in the warehouse, I decided I would like to collect used or new linens for the hurricane victims. Of course, they could use money donations as well. But if you could see the condition of the linens I gave to people who were happy to get them , you would be shocked. I just know that most of us have at least one towel plus washcloth or one set of twin, full, queen or double sheets that we would never miss if we donated them. There will be a box at Christ the King to collect these things or see me if you would like to donate cash or have any questions. Please share your good fortune and God bless you! Karen Reid