Greetings! I was on the road most of Friday and didn't have an opportunity to write an update. I want to say thank you to all of you who have called or emailed asking for suggestions on where your group can donate funds and supplies. When I get questions like that, it's a great feeling - to know other folks really care and are still committed to the recovery effort.
This last week I got an email from Buchanan County Long Term Relief Committee. Buchanan County was hit by floods and tornados and their food pantry is very low. Perhaps you are part of a volunteer or social organization that could take up a donation. If you would like more information contact me via email at becky.wood@iaumc.org .
I had the opportunity to meet with the Correctional Ministries Group on Saturday and some questions were asked and it occurred to me that I should share this information on my weekly update:
The question was asked about case management and how that is going. I had been asked to arrange training through UMCOR from the Linn County Long Term Recovery Committee but that has been put on hold for now. They feel like they doing okay with the hiring of case managers and don't see an immediate need for volunteer case managers at this point. If you reside in a community that could benefit from volunteer case managers, please let me know and we can make arrangements with UMCOR. We would need to have a class size of about 20 people.
Another question was asked about where funding from the Iowa Annual Conference is going. Right now I am gathering information from Long Term Recovery Committees and from pastors in the disaster areas, to see what the needs are and am reporting to the Disaster Recovery Steering Committee. We have inquiries about helping with showers in some of the churches who would like to house volunteers and are currently waiting for estimates from these churches. We have also committed to partnering with the CRWRC (Green Shirts) to rebuild the parsonage at St. James so they can house volunteers on a rotating basis for 2-3 years.
That's all for this week. Be safe - sounds like we're in for some crazy weather!
Becky Wood
Director of Recovery - Storms 2008
Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
2200 Heritage Green Dr.
Hiawatha, IA 52233
(319) 393-1607 (office)
(515) 238-5346 (cell)
