Adventist Community Services Sets up Warehouse in Belle, W.Va.

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

Following last week's floods in West Virginia, in which 23 people were killed and thousands were left homeless, staff from Mountain View Conference’s Adventist Community Services (ACS) have been actively coordinating relief efforts. The team is working to organize a warehouse in Belle, W.Va, just south of Charleston, where victims will receive necessary items.

Belle is about 50 miles from the site of the Your Best Pathway to Health event, scheduled for July 13-16, where Seventh-day Adventists from around the country will converge to offer free medical care to community members.

“The area was in dire need prior to the event [and] this storm compounds that,” says Minnie McNeil, director of ACS/ACS Disaster Relief (ACSDR) for the Allegheny East Conference and Columbia Union Conference. “Mountain View Conference will be in a position to assist, build relationships and provide ministry based on disinterested benevolence. This is our time to minister as Christ ministered.”

McNeil is spearheading the procurement of the warehouse management team. Larry Murphy, Adventist Community Services director for Mountain View Conference’s ACS, is working with Mountain View volunteers Mark Hann,  Randy Murphy and W. Derrick Lea, the North American Division assistant director in charge of disaster response, to inspect the warehouse in preparation for the team arriving on Wednesday.

After meeting with the warehouse management team, Murphy says he will better understand what kind of help is needed. “If you have ACS training, and can spend some time in the Charleston area, call my cell at 479-238-3070,” says Murphy. He added that another way to find volunteer opportunities is through volunteerwv.org.

When it becomes available, Visitor staff will post more information on columbiaunionvisitor.com about where to send monetary donations.

See Murphy's update below:

 

 

I want to thank everyone who has been praying for our neighbors in southern West Virginia. I know that many of you would like to be of help. One way to volunteer your time is to log on to the Volunteer West Virginia website at www.volunteerwv.org and sign up. They are the organization that can best put volunteers and task needs together.  

 

Adventist Community Services is actively involved in the set up and management of a warehouse in Belle, W.Va.,  just south of Charleston.

 

Tuesday morning, myself, Mark Hann ACS/ACSDR, Randy Murphy ACS/ACSDR, and W. Derrick Lea, the North American Division assistant director, in charge of disaster response will inspect the warehouse in preparation for the Warehouse Management Team that will arrive on Wednesday.

 

Minnie McNeil ACS/ACSDR Director for the Columbia Union has spearheaded the procurement of the warehouse management team, and I very much appreciate her work on our behalf. Lillie Buckingham is the warehouse management team leader, and has many years of experience in the field, and is also a trainer in the ACS/ACSDR field.

 

New storms have created new flooding and new victims suffering loss. Please keep this dangerous situation before the Lord in prayer.

 

We will post any new updates and needs here as the information becomes available. After meeting with the warehouse management team, I will better know what kind of help we need and can post those needs here on this Facebook page. If you have ACS training, and can spend some time in the Charleston area, call my cell 479-238-3070.

 

Thank you and God bless,

Larry Murphy,

Mountain View Conference, Adventist Community Services director

 

See a previous update from Murphy here.

See an update from the Potomac Conference here.