Gifts of cash are continuing be to sent for flood relief to Louisiana and Wilkinson County, Mississippi, along with work crews, which began deployment within the last few days according to the Rev. Ben Robertson, chairperson of the Diocese of Mississippi’s Disaster Preparedness and Response Team (DPRT).
The DPRT efforts have included encouraging individuals and parishes to contribute to the bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana’s discretionary fund and Episcopal Relief and Development,” said Robertson.
St.John’s/Pascagoula made its second trip to the Denham Springs, LA, area on Saturday, August 27, according to the Rev. Tom Fanning, rector of the parish. “We have a parishioner who is from the area and he’s got contacts that allowed us to move swiftly,” he said.
The Coast Convocation is sending in its first team of volunteers to help gut houses damaged by the flood. The team leaves on Monday, August 29, for an overnight in St. Francisville, Louisiana.
The Rev. Stephen Kidd, rector of St. Mark’s/Gulfport, immediately called the Rev. Bill Terry, rector of St. Anna’s/New Orleans when the flooding first began. Terry was asked by Louisiana Bishop Morris Thompson to coordinate work crews outside of the Baton Rouge area.
The crew from the Coast will work for two days in St. Francisville with Grace Episcopal Church providing assistance.
“We are also exploring how we might respond in Wilkinson County through conversations with Trinity/Natchez, Nathaniel Baptist Church/ Centerville, and Crosby Baptist Church/Crosby,” said Robertson. Also the Rev. Deacon Cathy Halford, a longtime member of the DPRT, is helping to coordinate work crews in all convocations.
Parishes are asked to stay in contact with Robertson as relief efforts continue so that the diocese will be up to date in its efforts to respond well.
To contribute to flood relief efforts, log on to the Diocese of Louisiana’s website, www.edola.org or Episcopal Relief and Development (www.episcopalrelief.org). Contact Scott Lenoir (slenoir1@gmail.com) to volunteer for work crews leaving form the Coast Convocation. Contact Cathy Hallford (chalford48@yahoo.com) regarding volunteering for work in all other convocations.
”All of these efforts are ongoing and we ask your prayers for, most importantly, the victims, and our response as sisters and brothers in Christ,” said Robertson.
The Rev. Scott Lenoir is the editor of The Mississippi Episcopalian.
