Iowa Disaster Relief & Recovery
Diocesan Office of Disaster Relief & Recovery
The Rev. Pat Genereux, Coordinator
319-750-0338 or pegenereux@msn.com
Hearts & Hands Project: February 2009 NEW!
Report Update-November 25, 2008 NEW!
Special Project-Shady Rest Motel NEW!
Donations
Request Flood Assistance
Volunteers
"All Hands" Projects
Forms and Information
Diocesan Office of Disaster Relief & Recovery
Coordinators
Iowa Flood Report
Ecumenical Flood Work
Join Bishop Scarfe and Pat Genereux in February as they travel to Galveston, Texas in February to assist the Diocese of Texas in their recovery and rebuilding from Hurricane Ike. Prelminary plans are to leave Iowa on February 11 and return either February 19 or 20. Even if you are not able to join this trip, you can still participate through donations of tools and financial gifts for building supplies. And most importantly, your prayers are very much needed and appreciated as we prepare for this ministry, as well as during it! For more information contact Pat Genereux at 319-750-0338 or
pegenereux@msn.com.
View/download Brochure
Bishop Scarfe has set up the Bishop’s Crisis Relief Fund as our principal contribution resource for flood relief in Iowa. You can
make donations online by credit card,
or by check payable to Diocese of Iowa - Flood Relief and mail to Flood Relief, Diocese of Iowa, 225 37th Street, Des Moines, IA 50312.
FREE* Retreat: Emotional & Spiritual Care for Long Term Disaster Services Recovery Workers
Prairiewoods and Church World Service are sponsoring a FREE* Retreat on Friday, October 3, 2008 from 9:00 AM- 4:30 PM at Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center, 120 E. Boyson Rd., Hiawatha, IA. Topics will include:
• Emotional & Spiritual Needs of those affected by disaster
• Emotional & Spiritual Needs of those working in Long Term Disaster Recovery
• Clergy Self-Care
Who should attend? Anyone who is working in Long Term Disaster Recovery, especially:
• Church Secretaries/Administrators
• Parish Nurses
• Stephen's Ministers
• Clergy & Pastoral Care Workers
Groups or Individuals to Volunteer
We are thankful for the many, many volunteers, both from Iowa and from across the country who have and are helping with clean-up and and recovery in the flood-affected areas. Individuals or groups interested in volunteering should contact the Volunteer Coordinators of the Office of Disaster Relief at
iafloodvolunteer@yahoo.com.
Volunteers work alongside other denominations and faith groups including the United Methodist Church, The ELCA, Disciples of Christ, and Jewish congregations, in ministry to all flood victims. We anticipate the need for and are scheduling volunteers through the fall and well into 2009.
For a list of affected areas and additional information, visit the web site for Christ Church, Cedar Rapids,
www.christepiscopal.org.
"All Hands" Volunteer Clean-up or Re-Building Days
Required for all volunteers:
Essential items to have or bring!
Whether you are helping to clean-up or to re-build the following items are essential:
• Current tetanus shot
• A completed Volunteer Agreement and Release form
• A completed Volunteer Medical Information form
• Long sleeve shirt or T
• Short sleeve shirt or T
• Long pants (no shorts please)
• Leather or heavy work gloves
• Safety goggles
• Head covering (baseball cap, hat or hard hat)
• Insect repellant
• Sunscreen
Prior to your volunteer assignment, the Work Site Crew Chief should let you know whether the following is needed and/or provided:
• N95 face mask with exhalation valve
• Meals (Your crew chief will let you know if meals are provided; if so, please let them know if you have special food needs)
• Special tools
• First Aid Kit
• Water and Snacks
You may want think about bringing:
• A towel (especially if it is hot and humid)
• Special snacks and additional water or sports drinks
• Clean clothes to change into for the trip home
• A plastic garbage bag to put dirty clothes in
Finally…
• Label everything you want to take home with you
has been established to respond to those in need as a result of natural disasters within the boundaries of the Diocese of Iowa in response to our baptismal vows while seeking to empower victims and local leaders to take the lead in their own recovery.
The Mission of the Office is to provide immediate and long-term relief to victims of flood, tornado and other disasters in the State of Iowa through the deployment of volunteers, distribution of grants, and a ministry of presence; by responding to the long-term needs of the victims of the 2008 floods, tornados and the undocumented workers crisis, through a variety of support programs; responding to those who volunteer and placing them where needed; responding to immediate financial needs through grants administered by local clergy and lay leaders; and responding to long term financial needs in partnership with ERD and other agencies.
Disaster Relief and Recovery Coordinator
The Rev. Pat Genereux, 319-750-0338 or pegenereux@msn.comThe Rev. Pat Genereux has overall responsibility and oversight for relief and recovery coordinated through the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa. This includes fielding needs requests, working with those who call, and connecting them with the local clergy or local coordinators. Genereux also serves as liasion with Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD), Diocesan Partners, and State/Federal agencies. He coordinates with the Bishop and Diocesan staff in the distribution of grant funds, linking with local clergy and Local Coordinators, ongoing fund raising, as well as seeking ways to share information, gather the Bishop's Task Force on Disaster Relief, and other related tasks as assigned by the Bishop.
As Volunteer Coordinators, The Rev. Betsy Lee and The Rev. Susanne Watson Epting work with groups/individuals who wish to help with clean-up and rebuilding, matching needs with individuals or groups of volunteers, and working with the local coordinators. They stay in touch with volunteers while working in Iowa, and they check back with them after they return home.
Pastoral Care-Mental Health Coordinator
The Rev. Dr. Lynne Carver, revdrltc@aol.com
The Rev. Dr Lynne Carver serves as the Pastoral Care-Mental Health Coordinator to ensure that flood victims, as well as all volunteers, have the opportunity to talk or meet with someone for pastoral care or counseling. Lynne is developing a list of qualified persons already involved in this ministry and will recruit additional local qualified pastoral care givers to work with local clergy, lay leaders and other agencies to provide ongoing pastoral or mental health care and appropriate follow-up. Those wishing to volunteer for this ministry, please contact
The Rev. Dr. Carver.
[August 5] It’s hard to believe that its been well over six weeks since the first reports of massive flooding in Iowa.
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