Immediate Needs for Hurricane Harvey: How You Can Help

When one member suffers, we all suffer . . .

Imagine what you might see inside this sanctuary. It is Cypress Creek Christian Church in Spring, Texas.

There are many of our brothers and sisters suffering in south Texas from Hurricane Harvey. We all know someone in this area – they are either family or friends who are impacted by this unbelievable storm.

Oklahoma folks know what devastation is, and we also know what it is like to be on the receiving end of grace and acts of kindness. Because we are compassionate and generous disciples of Christ, we are anxious to help our brothers and sisters in great need in south Texas. And we are all asking “What can we do?” Right now, the waters are still very high, and while the clouds have parted to reveal blue sky, people are still being rescued from danger.

What We Recommend

While there are many needs and many pleas on FaceBook, in consultation with Rev. Mary Hughes Gaudreau, Oklahoma Conference of Church’s expert on Disaster Spiritual and Emotional Care Ministries, Vy Nguyen from Week of Compassion, Josh Baird from Disciples Volunteering, Rebekah Belase local representative for Church World Service, and Zena McAdams, the Interim Regional Minister of the Christian Church in the Southwest, we are recommending the following:

PRAY. Keep the millions of victims of this storm in your prayers. Pray for all the rescuers, the first responders who are working on the ground and who are exhausted yet determined. Pray for the Red Cross and the Salvation Army who are in urgent mode. Pray for city officials who are already thinking about the long-term clean up. Pray for all the livestock and pets who were abandoned.

STAY. Out of concern and a desire to be useful, we want to go and help. Now is not the time! The situation is dangerous and is ongoing even though the sun came out on Tuesday afternoon. Volunteers at this time put themselves at risk and create additional challenges for rescue and emergency crews. Volunteer opportunities will come later for clean-up and long term recovery. We will listen for mission opportunities in the days and weeks and months ahead.

DONATE. Give to the Week of Compassion. On Sunday morning, please make an appeal to church members to make an extra donation to Week of Compassion. Remind folks to designate the donation to US Storms where 100% of their gifts will go to help communities rebuild after storms such as Hurricane Harvey. For the days ahead, be creative and host a church yard sale and donate all the proceeds to Week of Compassion.

MAKE.

Hygiene Kits and Clean Up Buckets.

Where to take them? We will publish a drop off point for these buckets in the near future. Arrangements are being made right now. Just get started!

GIVE BLOOD. You can always give blood at your local blood donation station and designate it Hurricane Harvey.

These are the first steps to being the hands and feet of Christ in South Texas.

Please know that this is a situation where the needs for help will change, almost daily. We will do our best to keep you informed so that you can continue to be faithful disciples of Christ, and guide your congregation to love and serve like Jesus.

Pam Holt, Regional Minister
Michael Davison, Associate Regional Minister
Leslie Dotson, Associate Regional Minister