VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
FOR FLOOD RECOVERY EFFORTS
IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
ST. PAUL,
Minn. (September 22, 2004) – Lutheran Social Service/Lutheran Disaster
Response is working together with the Austin Area Interfaith Disaster
Response, Thrivent Financial and other voluntary and government agencies
to coordinate volunteers to assist those affected by severe flooding in
southern Minnesota.
Intake
volunteers in the Austin Disaster Response Office have already registered
more than 150 households who have requested assistance in cleaning their
water-damaged homes. Many registrants are elderly or disabled, while
others are overwhelmed and unable to take on the clean-up task alone. Some
businesses and organizations need help as well.
Volunteers are urgently needed for these primary tasks:
-
Office
Assistance: Help families get registered for clean-up assistance from 9:00
a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday through Saturday at the Austin Disaster Response
Office, based at the Christ Episcopal Church, 301 3rd Avenue NW in Austin.
Office volunteers are also needed from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. starting
Saturday at a newly-established Disaster Response Office at Ascension
Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, 1100 US Highway 69 S.
-
Transportation and Assessment: Offer to transport equipment to homes for
clean-up and help assess needs and determine equipment needs.
-
General
Clean-Up: Help families move furniture, power spray and disinfect walls
and remove sandbags from their yards. Assist organizations and businesses
with their clean-up efforts.
To
volunteer in the Austin Disaster Response Office, please call
507.434.3635.
To
volunteer in the Albert Lea Disaster Response Office, please call
507.373.5958.
For
updates about flood recovery efforts, visit
www.lssmn.org/disaster.htm
Financial contributions are also
needed for those affected by flooding in southern Minnesota, as well as
for those recovering from the hurricanes in Florida. To make your
contribution:
Southern
Minnesota Floods: Make your check out to "LSS Disaster Response", with
"Floods" on the memo line, and send directly to: LSS Disaster Response,
2485 Como Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108-1445.
Hurricanes: Make your check out to "ELCA Domestic Disaster Response,"
with "Hurricane" on the memo line, and send directly to: ELCA Disaster
Response, P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, IL 60694-1764. You may give with a
major credit card by calling the ELCA Resource Information Service at
800-638-3522, or give online at
www.elca.org/dcs/disaster/howtohelp
