Information for Gulf Coast Volunteers
|
| Dear SFC Family: |
| Thank you for you interest in volunteering to go to
the Gulf Coast for the Katrina Recovery effort. This letter will
give you some information regarding what you need to know about
going into this area which has been devastated beyond our
imaginations. |
| We, Saratoga Federated Church, have established our
initial Gulf Coast volunteer partnership with CityTeam Ministries.
CityTeam has already set up a base of operations through local
ministries in the areas of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Hancock
County, Mississippi. Baton Rouge was not adversely affected by the
hurricane, but is the site of an evacuee center that has housed as
many as 1,500 evacuees. The area around the coastal town of
Waveland, Mississippi was highly devastated by the hurricane.
CityTeam is working with a local church that has established a
relief center that houses a number of local residents and is feeding
even a larger number of residents that have little or no access to
food and support services. These ministries have set up shelter
operations, which are serving hundreds of people daily. CityTeam was
selected a partner because of current relationship with them, and
because of their experience with shelters and disaster assistance.
They are also able to provide SFC volunteers with good preparation
training and logistical support. |
| Able-bodied volunteers are needed to go to
Mississippi and Louisiana. Having the following experience is
beneficial: |
- Counselors
- Medical Personnel
- Children's Workers
- Security Personnel
- Skilled Laborers (electricians, plumbers, etc)
- General Laborers
- Shelter Workers
|
| The selection criteria is as follows: |
- Adults (18 years old and over)
- Physically able and healthy
- Minimum of 1 week of service for non-professional volunteers
- No registered sex offenders
- Must be off parole/probation
- Go through CityTeam Boot Camp Training
- Skilled Professionals 1-week minimum
|
| You will need the following vaccinations before
leaving for the area: |
- Tetanus/Diphtheria(Td)
- Hepatitis A &B
|
| Presently, the known departure dates for teams going
to the area are: Sunday, September 11th, Friday September 16th, the
week of September 25th and the week of October 10th. |
| If you are prayerfully considering going to this
area, especially the Mississippi site, please know that the
conditions are very rough and you should be in excellent health.
There is no electricity or running water at this time, the
temperature is in the 90's with 90 percent humidity, showers are
nonexistent, insects are a problem. At this time, one area has a
dusk curfew due to lack of electricity. Some of these areas are
under restricted access, and volunteers need to be identified as
belonging to an approved agency in order to enter. |
| We need people to go. Those whose homes have been
destroyed by this calamity are saying that one of the greatest needs
they have is for people to come. Many have lost everything and have
only their pride and dignity left. Most of those in shelters are the
poorest of the poor, and are women and children. Most are African
American. We need to respond to the call God has put before us by
going to partner in this area, where we have been specifically
invited to help. We cannot bring the answers. We can go because the
compassion of Christ compels us to serve people in need. |
| The cost is approximately $1,500 for two weeks. Those
who are able to make a donation to cover their own cost will free up
much needed cash for the relief effort. |
| If you are interested, please register through
Saratoga Federated by signing up today. You may also contact Kris
Rapazzini by email. |
| Please continue to pray for the victims of the
hurricane and for the health and strength of the relief workers
already in place. Pray for wisdom as the leadership continues to
develop strategies to respond to this disaster in ways that bring
glory to God's Name. |
| In Christ, |
| Greg Davis, Pastor of Global Outreach
Kris Rapazzini, Volunteer Co-Coordinator |
