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Committed Katrina Volunteers
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Many people made a commitment to help after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, but few groups have had the long-term dedication of those from a town hundreds of miles away from the Gulf Coast. Reed Galin shares the story of some strangers who will not let their neighbors be forgotten. |
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SCRIPT:
(Locator: Slidell, Louisiana)Call it sweat equity.
Man painting ceiling: “It’s getting warm already. “
Members of Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church in Tipp City, Ohio are investing their labor a thousand miles away, in the future of the Gulf Coast.
Worker says: “You want to do the primer?”
Many volunteers have come to repair homes ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, but Ginghamsburg has shown a remarkable dedication, sending 42 teams in the three years since the storm hit.
Jim Meyer, Member, Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church: “You realize that at any given moment, you could be in the situation that these people were in.”
It’s a 14-hour drive from Ohio, but the Gulf Coast trip is the church’s most popular mission.
Nate Gibson, Member, Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church: “We don’t call them volunteers at Ginghamsburg. That’s part of our DNA. We call them servants.”
Man hammering laminate: “Success!”
Erika Manis, Member, Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church: “Going to school you’re surrounded by a lot of very similar people and you don’t often see what’s outside of your own window.”
Seventy-five-year-old Margaret Russell is one of the homeowners helped by their efforts.
Margaret Russell, Homeowner: “You are doing such a beautiful job.”
Russell says neither her insurance company nor government programs came through for her, but this group did.
Margaret Russell, Homeowner: “They gave me new hope. And new faith!”
Volunteers say doing repairs is not their only goal. They want to spread the word that this region’s recovery is far from complete.
Nate Gibson, Member. Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church: “Some are estimating seven years, some are estimating at 10 years.”
Ryan Stammen, Member, Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church: “It’s hard not to be overwhelmed and to think the work will never be completed. But people like us keep coming and that’s how it will get done.”
…no matter the forecast, as residents face another hurricane season.
Margaret Russell, Homeowner: “I will never forget what you all did for me, to help us. To help me.”
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Ginghamsburg is one of dozens of organizations who have partnered with Northshore Disaster Recovery, Inc., organized by the Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Committee On Relief.
For more information, contact Craig Maxwell who is the global missions specialist at Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church. His number is 937-667-1069 ext. 226.