Local Citizens Pitch In To Help Glenville Flood Victims
Release Date: September 30, 2003
Release Number: 1495-06
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New Castle, DE -- Judy Shores said that she and a couple of other women from St. Marks United Methodist Church started out by volunteering to supply snacks for the workers and volunteers in the joint state and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). The disaster recovery center, located in the church fellowship hall, opened on Thursday September 26, to victims who suffered losses as a result of tropical storm Henri and hurricane Isabel.
As flood victims from the nearby neighborhood of Glenville arrived at the DRC, Judy Shores, a 24-year member of St. Marks United Methodist Church, saw that the flood victims were in need of meals. She dug into the church's food closet and started giving out food. By Thursday afternoon she was preparing hot meals for victims who came to the DRC. Some meals have even been taken to people still in the Glenville neighborhood.
The members of St. Marks United Methodist Church plan to continue providing hot meals for disaster victims at the church as long as the need exists. Shores said that the church's food closet has been depleted and that the church is now buying food to prepare hot meals for disaster victims. Shores is working with other local churches to prepare the meals. The American Red Cross will assist in delivering food to disaster victims.
Shores said that a local Pepperidge Farms outlet store and a Shop-Rite store have both agreed to donate bread products to assist in feeding the disaster victims. Shores and the pastor of St. Marks United Methodist Church, Tom Edwards, said they could use donations of food and money or help in preparing meals.
Pastor Edwards said, "Providing meals for the disaster victims is the least that we can do; after all, Jesus came to feed the hungry."
Donations can be made directly to St. Marks United Methodist Church-Glenville Flood, 1700 Limestone Rd., Wilmington, DE 19804.
Anyone affected by tropical storm Henri or Hurricane Isabel is urged to start the application process before visiting the center by calling FEMA's toll-free number at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Hearing and speech-impaired individuals may call TTY at 1-800-462-7585. If you are without telephone service and you wish to register with FEMA, phones will be available at the DRC. The DRC is open 9:30 AM-6: 30 PM Monday through Saturday until further notice. St. Marks United Methodist Church is located at 1700 Limestone Rd., Wilmington.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 30-Sep-2003 13:26:24