Here is a link to an article that talks a little bit about the humanitarian efforts that the LDS church does generally, and specifically about the preparation to help the victims of the Gustav hurricane.
I have personal experience with church relief programs as I assisted in the clean-up and relief efforts in the aftermath of hurricanes Charlie, Jean, and Frances back in 2004. You can see in the pictures below, the way it is organized is that church members from around the state congregate at a local church building where they are given supplies (and often times T-shirts) and their work assignments for that day. Local leaders prepare directions and coordinate with civic officials.
Once we find our assigned locations we assess what we can do to be helpful. You can see that chain-saws and young men with muscles are both very valuable in these situations. Of course no one gets paid for any of this service and there is no proselyting. This is a pure act of charity that is rewarded by the smiles and thank-you's from those who are helped.
I was "behind the camera" in all the pictures below, but you can see Walker in one shot (2nd row, 2nd column). The picture in the 2nd row 1st column has been published in the LDS Church News and the church's magazine, the Ensign.
I have personal experience with church relief programs as I assisted in the clean-up and relief efforts in the aftermath of hurricanes Charlie, Jean, and Frances back in 2004. You can see in the pictures below, the way it is organized is that church members from around the state congregate at a local church building where they are given supplies (and often times T-shirts) and their work assignments for that day. Local leaders prepare directions and coordinate with civic officials.
Once we find our assigned locations we assess what we can do to be helpful. You can see that chain-saws and young men with muscles are both very valuable in these situations. Of course no one gets paid for any of this service and there is no proselyting. This is a pure act of charity that is rewarded by the smiles and thank-you's from those who are helped.
I was "behind the camera" in all the pictures below, but you can see Walker in one shot (2nd row, 2nd column). The picture in the 2nd row 1st column has been published in the LDS Church News and the church's magazine, the Ensign.
Left: LDS Church member volunteers from many different wards traveled hours to gather at a local chapel.
Middle: Part of the group from my ward in Plantation.
Right: Our party was assigned to help a family that had a tree that had fallen on the roof.
Left: After trimming the tree, we readied to pull it off the roof. This picture was in church publications.
Middle: The tree fell hard, the roof was mostly undamaged. Look close to see Walker, second from the left.
Right: At another home a telephone pole that had fallen across a fence was sawed into manageable pieces.
Left: Many mobile home residents had significant damage. We helped to lift and carry and stack debris.
Right: The best reward we could get is the smiles and thanks of the homeowners (in the center of the picture).
1 comment:
I always thought that you would do something useful some day. I'm proud of you and Walker (there is some evidence that he actually worked).
love,
Dad
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