Since Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida a little over two weeks ago, the Conference has been responding to the needs of our local churches and their communities. Below is the latest list of needs we are encountering:
Trained Volunteers:
Emergency Response Teams are hard at work in the field, but more trained volunteers are needed. An in-person Basic ERT Training is scheduled for Saturday, October 15, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at First Lakeland UMC. Click here to register.
We are looking for additional churches to host Basic ERT Training. Once we have confirmed host churches and dates, training will be posted online for registration. If you are interested in hosting, please contact Jill Hockin: jillhockin@gmail.com.
Materials Needed:
The following supplies are needed for our ERTs:
- Cleaning supplies (Borax, dish detergent, Calgon, etc.)
- Plywood – ½ inch
- 1x2 furring strips
- Tarps
- Large truck to tow 10 ft trailers in Ellenton area
Contact the call center at 855-228-3862 if you are able to donate these materials.
Canvassing:
We are seeking volunteers to canvass neighborhoods to share our call center information. Click here for a flyer for distribution. This will help us determine where ERTs are needed and where we may need to do long term recovery.
Churches aware of their specific community's needs can submit this information to Kelly Milner at kmilner@flumc.org so our teams can support you during recovery.
Distribution Sites
Churches in Osceola, DeSoto, Hardee, Sarasota or Manatee county that can house ERTs or be a distribution site for cleaning kits, hygiene kits, water, etc., please contact Jill Hockin: jillhockin@gmail.com. For housing ERTs, we are requesting
- Showering facilities (optional)
- 2 rooms to house volunteers
- Access to cooking facilities
The need is great, and it is widespread.
We appreciate the support you have given this ministry.
To receive Disaster Recovery ministry updates via text message:
Text the word disaster to 844-635-1026.