How is the Seventh-day Adventist Church Helping Following Hurricane Helene?

Frank Bondurant, vice president of Ministries Development for the Columbia Union Conference, shared the following email on how the Seventh-day Adventist Church is responding to help in the wake of Hurricane Helene and the incoming Hurricane Milton.

Columbia Union ACS/DR Colleagues,

The news coming from the southern states impacted by Hurricane Helene has been shocking and heartbreaking.  The images on the daily news displaying the personal and property carnage have been unbelievable.  I know all of you have been praying for the victims as they begin the long, slow, and painful process of rebuilding their lives.  

I have been receiving many inquiries about how our church is responding to the situation and how our members can help.  I am very excited to share that our church is highly engaged with the local communities impacted and with the other civic response agencies.  I have attached the latest report from W. Derrick Lee our Disaster Response director at the North American Division.  It is so encouraging to see how our churches and members are actively serving those who have been affected.

Many of you have expressed to me a desire to give of yourself and make a contribution to the relief work.  Their greatest need right now is CASH.  Donations are extremely helpful at this time.  Please be sure to give to trusted agencies like our NAD ACS/DR  department.  Be aware there are many opportunists out there who create scams to take advantage of these crises.  

Director Lee also tells me that the greatest needs of the residents at this phase of the disaster are the following:

Water
Baby products like formula, diapers, etc.
Any solar-powered charging station
MRE’s (meals ready to eat)

If your conference, church, or members want to give or volunteer their services I am listing the following conferences in the affected areas which now have links on their websites for those who want to assist:

• Florida Conference                                                     http://www.floridaconference.com/hurrican-helene-response/                     Director of DR operations is Conrad Duncan
• Georgia Cumberland Conference                        http://www.gccsda.com                                                                                                     Director of DR operations is Luis Biazzoto
• Carolina Conference                                                  http://www.carolinasda.org                                                                                              Director of DR operations is David Graham
• North American Division                                           http://www.communityservices.org/our-ministry/disaster-response/        Director of DR operations is W. Derrick Lee

Please do not embark on any independent response on your own. Instead, I urge you to contact our NAD team and these local conference directors so that you can coordinate and collaborate with their already established networks and DR strategy and structures in place. * Please also contact your local Columbia Union Conference directors. *

It is still early in the response and recovery process and many of these initiatives are just beginning.  All this will be further complicated by the onset of Hurricane Milton which is now threatening to wreak havoc on these already stricken areas.  There will be an increasing need for resources and volunteers soon.

Thank you for your prayers for these residents and for what you will do to alleviate their suffering.

I will endeavor to keep you informed of any significant developments and news on how you can help.

Sincerely,

Frank Bondurant