6-25-08 Help for Iowa
Members and Friends of the Presbytery of Des Moines,
Many Iowans are starting the process of clean up for individuals, businesses and communities. In an effort to coordinate responses, the following options are available to sign up for sending volunteer teams to help victims for 1-day trips or multiple days.
1. Requests for Help. Most communities are handling these needs differently. In the Des Moines area, contact www.UnitedWay.org or call 2-1-1. In Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area, contact www.CorridorRecovery.org or the United Way of Johnson County. In the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area, contact the Iowa Concerns Hotline for specifics on community contacts. In the South East Iowa area, contact Des Moines County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) www.co.des-moines.ia.us/. In general, if the person needing help is elderly, they should contact their local area Agency on Aging to request assistance.
2. Volunteer Teams to help multiple days. The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Services is working to gather information from affected communities and Emergency Management Officials in the 99 counties. So, Aid Matrix is being used by Iowa counties to coordinate donations and volunteers. In fact, the Presbyterian Church (USA) Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is a member of the Iowa Disaster Human Resources Council (IDHRC) which has created an account at www.aidmatrixnetwork.org/fema/states.aspx?ST=Iowa to enable monies to be donated through our national Web site. Iowa Homeland Security Emergency Management Division is coordinating this system.
3. Volunteer Teams to help for 1-day trips. In Des Moines, the United Way is coordinating volunteers and groups at www.unitedwaydm.org or 2-1-1. Right now, three additional ’clean-up’ days are being organized by the United Way in Des Moines. In Iowa City, the United Way is coordinating. In Cedar Rapids, www.corridorrecovery.org is organizing teams.
4. Finally, if you are a church and want to receive volunteer teams and coordinate their cleanup efforts for communities, you can sign up through the national Presbyterian Disaster Assistance to have teams scheduled to your area. Remember though, you need to be able to house these teams for multiple-day trips. Contact Coordinator Penny Noles at 866/732-6121.
SPECIAL NOTE: The Des Moines Presbytery office received a special request from the City of Waverly for immediate help to clean up and remove sandbags and equipment from basements of businesses. Their whole downtown was flooded. If you are interested, Contact either Carol Bruxford at 319-352-4526 or The United Way at wsrunitedway@gmail.com or 319-352-8701.
For questions on the information above, contact the Presbytery Office for clarification. As always, continued prayers are needed for all affected by floods.
Thank you, Kimberly Coulter, Director of Communications