Emergence

Below is a shortened version of an email I received yesterday from flood relief coordinator Jeff Hull. The holiday season is now upon us and we're all pressed for time. Lots of us are working hard on the new building. However, if you have a few hours this Saturday morning please consider lending a hand to help our neighbors who are still in need from the hurricane and storm. It's always important for us to keep a good balance between working "in the church" and "in the community."- Mike

Hi Everyone,

I trust your Thanksgiving season is going well, and you have a great time with your families tomorrow.  We're now 3-months post-Hurricane Irene, but if you've taken a ride through any of the flood areas at night, you'll find that it's pretty dark since many homes are either unoccupied or lit by working lights as homeowners rebuild.  There are only a few who are living full-time there with a working kitchen and bathroom.

I was prompted to act when my wife returned a fireman's uniform on Sunday she had dry cleaned, to someone who was laying kitchen tile before his kitchen is installed, has no furnace for heat, his drywall and insulation are still not re-installed, and had just installed a wood burning stove whose smoke was backing up into the house.  He was frustrated thinking he'd have quick heat to work in, but didn't have time to fix it.  Having a wood stove myself, I was able to stop in, and rework his piping and fix it.  It made me wonder how many other people need help.

We'd like to help them out for a few hours this Saturday:

• When:  9 am - 1 pm, this Saturday the 26th -  We'll go to lunch at The Little Food Cafe in PPlains for food and fellowship afterwards.
• Contact person:  Jeff Hull, ,  cell 973-610-5744 - please use email first.  I'll be onsite on Brookside at the address below.
• Where?  Meet either at:

29 Brookside Ave, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444-1807 - or....

The families you served back in September right after Irene.  We'd prefer that you continue to develop those relationships whether in Pompton Lks, Wayne, Lincoln Pk, Pequannock Twp, etc.

• What will we be doing? 

You'll be assigned to a block, hopefully going back to homes we've helped out in the past, and just knocking on doors asking if you can help with the skills you have.  You might not be able to help physically, but you might assist with household organization or babysitting.

Yard clean up - cut up branches that came down in the snowstorm and clean up leaves if homeowners haven't been able to do so. Bring gloves, string; loppers, clippers, and chain saws to cut branches; blowers, gas, and leaf rakes and leaf bags.

Inside work - stock your cars with tools ready to help out with tile work, dry walling, insulation, kitchen installations, etc.  So masks, gloves, utility knives, tape measure, snap lines, drywall blades, trowels for floor adhesive, etc may be needed    Since we don't have time for assessments, just be ready to help.

Thanks,
Jeff Hull