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 Mission Huntsville Update - a City-Impact Initiative
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Area-Wide Update - Katrina Relief Efforts and Churches of the Valley!
John Buhler, Mission Huntsville
September 12, 2005


Mission: Huntsville
Mis·sion: noun: 1.) a specific objective or task with which a person is charged or assigned; 2.) a personal or collaborative effort that includes a definite military or evangelistic objective; 3.) a divine assignment to the people and place within a specific geographic area;

Hunts·ville: noun: 1.) proper name identifying a city and surrounding geographic area of North Alabama in the Tennessee River Valley; 2.) historical capital of Alabama and birthplace of the state constitution 3.) a city of birth and new beginnings; 4.) a city of nations;


Mission: Huntsville
A City-Impact Initiative


Please be aware of several of the following opportunities for prayer, support, or community involvement, and pass this information along to others who may be interested as well.

Disaster Relief and Resources - Churches of the Valley Mobilize!
Tennessee Valley Hurricane Relief - Central Resource Database for Churches of the Valley
Manna House Disaster Relief - Operation Restoration
Additional Information for Churches of the Valley
Tennessee Valley Community Resources
Expanded List of Resources from Senator Sessions Office

Presidential Proclamation
National Day of Prayer - Sept 16th, 2005

  

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Contact Information

Tennessee Valley Church Disaster Relief
Church Hurricane Relief Mobilization - Churches of the Valley Uniting in Disaster Relief!

Central Resource Database for Churches of the Valley

Tennessee Valley Hurricane Relief
Central Resource Database for Churches of the Valley

Following a meeting of over 100 local valley churches with the Red Cross at Asbury United Methodist Church to consider how we could centralize information about resources and needs in the disaster relief efforts, a Church Hurricane Relief Task Force was formed to help fill the vacuum of information and structure for the hurricane relief efforts.

An online database has been created to offer a free central clearinghouse of information to churches of the valley in tracking resources donated or available.

PLEASE note this central resource has incredible potential, but is dependant on your church or organization to register and log any resources you have available for relief efforts.

In addition please use this central resource when you come across needs during relief efforts!

Resources can include any of he following and more:

  • Items donated and/or inventory available for Disaster Relief
  • Relief Efforts and/or Events (local or on-site)
  • Training or Opportunities (whether for people displaced, or for volunteers or those willing to help in relief efforts)
  • Etc.

    • Special Notes - Registration and use is free. Updating available inventory and resources is tracked by your email address provided at registration. It is requested currently that only churches and organizations register and update inventory. If you are an individual, please reference How Individuals Can Help.

    PLEASE UPDATE THIS DATABASE WITH YOUR CHURCH OR ORGANIZATION RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR RELIEF EFFORTS!

    You may register to make updates for a church or organization as follows:

    1.) Go to the web site - http://www.tnvalleyhurricanerelief.com
    2.) Click the Register menu item
    3.) Fill in the Register Form fields with:
        a.) your Email Address,
        b.) create your Password, and
        c.) enter the Authorization Code jointhecause
    4.) Click the Register button to submit

    If there are additional questions they may be addressed to help@tnvalleyhurricanerelief.com, and you may email the database web master here

    This continues to be refined to meet the needs of the church relief efforts. Please provide feedback of ideas that could help make this tool more useful.

    Tennessee Valley Hurricane Relief - Home

    View Donated Inventory
    Seeking Assistance and Volunteering Opportunities
    View Donated Inventory
    Search Donations

    Tennessee Valley Hurricane Relief Organizations
    Register
    Log In
    Log Out
    Enter an Item
    Edit an Item
    Delete an Item

    Contact Us
    Email Us
    Administration Panel
    Browse Donations:
    Click on a link below to browse all the donations in that category.
    Clothing
    Events
    Employment
    Food
    Housing
    Monetary Gifts
    Teams
    Toiletries
    Transportation
    Other

    Manna House Disaster Relief

    Manna House Disaster Relief


    MANNA HOUSE DISASTER RELIEF
    OPERATION RESTORATION

    Valley Churches, Businesses, City Leaders Coordinate to Turn Abandoned Hotel into Survivor's Sanctuary

    Operation Restoration is made of a coalition of Manna House, area churches and businesses. This coalition is working together to offer housing, meals, job placement, medical, long-term housing and governmental assistance to those that have been forced to evacuate the Gulf Coast because of Hurricane Katrina.

    Operation Restoration will begin offering housing September 13th to evacuees. Initially, we will have 40 rooms that will house up to 120 people. Within 2 weeks we hope to have all 140 rooms renovated to house between 300 - 400 evacuees for six months to a year. With the seal of approval of Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer, as of September 8, 2005 we will begin to clean up and restore all services to the old Ramada Inn located at 3502 South Memorial Parkway. We desire to see Job Placement, Medical Care, Huntsville City Schools, Social Security Administration and Daycare assistance provided for evacuees.

    If you desire to support this effort please call 256-533-9292 for more information. If you want to volunteer your time, please add your name to our e-mail list at the Manna House Disaster Relief web site - www.MannaHouseDisasterRelief.org. You must be over 18 years old or accompanied by a guardian to participate in this effort.

    If you want to make a donation of services (Carpet, plumbing, electric, glass, etc) please contact Scott Jones at 256-533-9292. If you desire to make a monetary donation please make the check payable to Manna House. All donations are tax deductible and would be greatly appreciated.

    Channel 48 News story


    Manna House Food Distribution Center
    2110 Memorial Pkwy SW
    Huntsville, AL 35801
    Phone: 256.533-9292
    Fax: 256-533-5494
    Web: www.MannaHouseDisasterRelief.org
    Email: smerritt@therockfwc.org

      Help Survivors of Hurricane Katrina

    Hurricane Katrina has blazed a trail of devastation throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Across the Gulf Coast, Katrina engulfed thousands of homes and decimated the landscape in what could become the most destructive storm in U.S. history. Victims are stranded and in need of immediate medical care, food and water, and tens of thousands of people will need temporary housing for months. Manna House Disaster Relief is bringing aid to these survivors through your help. We hope that you will partner with us to impact these people in need.

      Clarification of recent news reports

    In the Huntsville Times Newspaper on Thursday, September 8th, it was reported that evacuees would be placed in rooms with mold concerns.  This is an incorrect statement.  Some of the rooms did have mold issues and we have hired a professional company assess the situation and are taking the necessary steps to resolve these issues.

    Channel 19 news reported on Thursday evening, September 8th, that $200,000.00 had been received to cover expenses for the Operation Restoration. The actual statement is that we are in need of $200,000.00 to $300,000.00 to cover these expenses.  These funds have not as of yet been donated. 


      New Media Gallery

      Latest news

      ADOPT-A-ROOM

      Daily Updates

      OPERATION RESTORATION

      Hunstville Team travels to NOLA

      Volunteer Opportunities

      What Can I donate?

      Baby Item Collection

      Links

      PRC Compassion

      Expectation Ministries


    :: Home               :: Contact Us            :: About Us           :: Partners              :: Manna House            :: r.u.o.c.

    Additional Information for Churches of the Valley

    Local Katrina Relief Collection & Distribution Center Announced:

    Southwood Bulletin Board
    Prayer Requests and Important Notices
    September 9, 2005

    Southwood Presbyterian Church has moved out to open a major collection and distribution center in the Publix Shopping Center at 4851 Whitesburg Drive in Huntsville, at Airport Road, between Publix and Movie Gallery. The center is to open Sep 10th and will receive donations (see donations requested here - MS Word Doc) Mondays through Saturdays 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sundays 1 – 5 p.m. Trucks will be going continuously to the large, efficient and well-run center at Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, where smaller trucks stand by to get the goods out to the areas in need. The need for volunteer workers and donations will be great. We want to invite all churches, businesses and groups to join us in this effort. All donations received will be for the Gulf Coast area; not for local distribution. Please help spread the word. This is an opportunity and challenge for all our area.

    Bob Bradshaw (652-3778) is the director of the center. Anyone interested in working today and tomorrow just go to the location. To volunteer and schedule a time to work later, please call him.

    Please note that no used clothing is to be donated here. (That should go to the Whitesburg Baptist Church Clothes Closet or Asbury Thrift Store on Old Madison Pike in Madison.)

    For general questions please e-mail relief@southwood.org or call Laura Patterson at 882-3085.

    If you know of evacuees looking for jobs, I am told The Volunteer Center is handling that. Also, have them check the city’s web page, which is supposed to have all info needed for Huntsville (www.ci.huntsville.al.us).

    NEED:
    A member has a car to donate but it needs transmission work first. If you would like to help with this expense please call Susan DuPre at 880-1243

    Laura Patterson
    Disaster Relief Coordinator
    Southwood Presbyterian Church

    Somebody Cares (Houston) Relief Efforts:

    Report from Houston
    Bret A. Wade (of Global Impact Ministries - Huntsville, AL)
    September 10, 2005

    Matt Stevens is helping coordinate efforts in Houston, TX. He works closely with Doug Stringer of Somebody Cares.

    An infrastructure of collaborating city churches is the saving grace for Houston. The church is shining in this area. The secular agencies are helping some but nowhere near the effort that the church is putting out. The secular response to the church has been very interesting. There are approximately 200,000 evacuees in the city. The Astrodome only represents a portion. Those are mostly those rescued from the Superdome. Those coming to the churches are white collar executives, doctors, lawyers as well as blue collar workers. The reports we are receiving out of the these churches is that the attitude from the evacuees is overwhelmingly grateful.

    Somebody Cares has warehousing in several places for supplies. They are abreast of the needs along the coast. Databases are being constructed to match needs to available goods and supplies. This has gone beyond drop off and distribution. It's taken the church of Houston to a whole new level of ministry efforts. Teams of volunteers are arriving from all over the country. Matt can also arrange missions teams. The skills will be matched to the needs.

    Bret A. Wade of Global Impact Ministries - Huntsville, AL, www.globalimpactinc.org, bretwade@globalimpactinc.org, 256.828.3055 office

    Tennessee Valley Community Resources



    The Volunteer Center of Madison County has been requested to coordinate area efforts with Red Cross.


        Disaster Relief - Meeting Local Needs
        List of Local Services available for those displaced by Katrina

        Disaster Relief Needs - Local/State/National
        Local Volunteer and Donation Needs/Drives, and National Information

        Disaster Relief Housing - Housing


    The Volunteer Center of Madison County
    912-B Bob Wallace Avenue
    Huntsville, AL 35801
    Phone (256) 539-7797
    Fax (256) 539-7806
    Web: www.volunteerhsv.org
    Email: info@volunteerhsv.org



    American Red Cross - Madison / Marshall County Chapter
    1101 Washington Street NW
    Huntsville, AL 35801
    (256) 536-0084
    Web: www.redcrossrelief.org or www.helpcantwait.org
    Email: contactus@helpcantwait.org

    Serving Madison, Marshall and Jackson Counties

    North Alabama Responds
    The people of Huntsville and Madison County join the State and Nation in matching the needs of evacuees to sources where their needs can be met.

    Their needs include:



    Expanded List of Resources from Senator Sessions Office

    U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions provided to the Christian Coalition of Alabama the following list of contacts for relief agencies, government agencies and various organizations working with victims of Hurricane Katrina.
     
    Please pass this information along to anyone you feel it could benefit.
     
    Resources for Those in Need
     
    A list of organizations active during disasters can be found at: www.usafreedomcorps.gov
     
    State of Alabama Donations and Volunteers Hotline
    1-877-273-5018
     
    Web Site for Donating Housing or Finding Housing
     
    Licensed health care professionals who want to volunteer should call
    1-800-272-2707.
     
    Vendors
    National Emergency Resource Registry
     
    Click on “Help the Victims of Hurricane Katrina-
    Register Your Business to Provide Relief For vendors wishing to do business with FEMA
     
    Web site for resources of any kind can be posted
    (donations, volunteers, contractors, etc.)
     
    Locate Missing and stranded Individuals (Red Cross Site):
     
    Family Link Registry Locate Missing and stranded Individuals (Coast Guard Site):
     
    FEMA National Donations Hotline
    1-800-440-6728
    202-646-4006 (for voice message)
     
    USPS
     (FOR INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE ADDRESS CHANGES
    800-ASK-USPS/800-275-8777)
     
    JOB RESOURCES
     
    Department of Labor:
    866-4-USA-DOL (866-487-2365
     
    Alabama Department of Industrial Relations
    866-234-5382
     
    Louisiana Department of Labor
    866-783-5567
     
    Mississippi Department of Employment Security
    888-844-3577 OR
     
    Alabama 
     
    List of County EMA Offices
     
    To List Rental Units
     
    Alabama Only
    Fax information to Mary Bendon
     334-409-4691
     
    Alabama Emergency Management Agency
    205-280-2200
     
    Click below for your county EMA contact information:
     
     Alabama Department of Transportation
    Emergency Road Closure Information and Evacuation Updates:
    1-888-588-2848 or 1-334-353-6650
     
    Attorney General
    1-800-392-5658
    To report price gouging contact the Consumer Affairs Office: http://www.ago.state.al.us/
     
    Alabama Department of Mental Health & Mental Retardation
    1-800-367-0955
    Facilities and Health Care Information
     
    Louisiana
     
    To report missing persons,
    please call the American Red Cross at 1(866) 438-4636.
    Louisiana Governor Blanco's hotline:
    800-469-4828
     
    Louisiana Evacuation Office:
    225-925-7514
     
    Louisiana State Police:
     225-925-7708 or 7709
     
    Shelter Information:
     
    Red Cross- 1(866)(438-4636)
    Special Needs Shelter Information Triage Phone Numbers:
    Alexandria: 800-841-5778
    Baton Rouge: 800-349-1372
    Slidell/Hammond: 866-280-7724
    Lafayette: 800-901-3210
    Lake Charles: 866-280-2711
    Monroe: 866-280-7287
    Houma/Thibodaux: 800-228-9409
     
    Mississippi
    Red Cross 1-866-Get Info (Missing Persons)
     
    To report missing persons, please email missingpersons@seoc.ms.gov
     
    Red Cross
    1-800-Help Now (Donations)
     
    MDOT traffic hotline:
     601-352-7017
     
     Volunteers Medical personnel:
     
    Doctors call: 601-987-3079;
    EMTs call: 601-576-8085;
    Nurses call: 601-497-8022
    Non-professional volunteers: contact Red Cross, Salvation Army other established volunteer organizations.
     
    DONATIONS
     
    To locate local Red Cross Chapter: http://www.redcross.org/where/where.html
     American Red Cross 1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English,
     1-800-257-7575 Spanish;
     
    Family Links Registry
     1-877-LOVED-1S (1-877-568-3317)
     
    Operation Blessing
    1-800-436-6348
     
    America’s Second Harvest
    1-800-344-8070
     
    Donate Cash to and Volunteer with:
     
    Adventist Community Services
    1-800-381-7171
     
    Catholic Charities, USA
    1-800-919-9338
     
    Christian Disaster Response
     941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554
     
    Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
    1-800-848-5818
     
    Church World Service
    1-800-297-1516
     
    Convoy of Hope
    417-823-8998
     
    Corporation for National and Community Service Disaster Relief Fund
    (202) 606-6718
     
    Lutheran Disaster Response
    800-638-3522
     
    Mennonite Disaster Service
    717-859-2210
     
    Nazarene Disaster Response
    888-256-5886
     
    Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
    800-872-3283
     
    Salvation Army
    1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)
     
    Southern Baptist Convention -- Disaster Relief
    1-800-462-8657, ext. 6440
     
    United Methodist Committee on Relief
    1-800-554-8583
     
    B'nai B'rith International,
    2020 K Street, N.W., Seventh Floor, Washington, D.C., 20006;
    or online by going to www.bnaibrith.org and
    clicking on the link for disaster relief.
     
    United Jewish Communities,
    P.O. Box 30, Old Chelsea Station, N.Y., 10113,
    attention: Hurricane Katrina.
    Mark the memo section of checks with "Katrina."
    Phone: 1- 877-277-2477
     
    Union for Reform Judaism
     Information on the Disaster Relief Fund can be found at www.urj.org/relief
     
     International Aid Global Headquarters
    17011 W. Hickory Spring Lake,
    Michigan 49456-9712,
    USA Phone: (616) 846.7490
    Fax: (616) 846.3842
    Toll Free: (800) 968-7490
    24-hour Donation Line: (800) 251.2502
     
     For further information: visit the website for the
    National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD)
     
     
    OTHER CONTACT INFORMATION
      
    Alabama Commission on Aging
     1-877-425-2243
     1-800-243-5463
    1800-458-7214
     
    Farm Service Agency
    Mobile, Baldwin:(251)937-3297;
    Washington: (251)246-0245
     
     Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA)
    1-800-843-0699
     
    Alabama Emergency Management
     
    American Red Cross
     1-800-GET-INFO
     
    Alabama Consumer Affairs Division
    1-800-392-5658
     
    Department of Mental Health
    State Wide Crises Counseling
    1-800-367-0955
    1800-832-0952
     POC: Acquanetta Knight (334) 242-3229
     
    Alabama Dept. of Revenue
     1-334-242-1170
     
    Disaster Unemployment
     
    Department of Industrial Relations
    1-866-234-5382
     
     Donations Hotline
     
    Emergency Assistance
    1-800-HELP-NOW (435-7669-English);
    (1-800-257-7575-Spanish)
     
    American Red Cross
    1-866-438-4636
      
    Food Stamps Automated Information Line
    1-800-382-0499
     
    Fraud
     
    FEMA Fraud-Office of Inspector General
    1-800-323-8603
     
    FEMA Help-Line & Teleregistration
    1-800-621-3362
    1-800-462-7585
      
    Governor's Office
    334-242-7100
      
    Insurance Commissioner
    1-800-433-3966
     1-334-296-3550
     
    Disaster Legal Services
     
    Young Lawers Division Alabama State Bar
    1-800-354-6154
     1-334-2691515
     
    Salvation Army
    1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
     
    Small Business Administration
    1-800-UASK.SBA
    1-800-827-5722
     
    Social Security Administration
    1-800-772-1213
    1-800-325-0778 TTY
     
     Tax Assistance
     
    I.R.S.
    1-800-829-1040
     1-800-829-4059  TTY
    Refund only Information 1-334-353-2540
     
    Veterans Services
     
    U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
    1-800-827-1000
    1-800- 829-4833 TTY

    Presidential Proclamation - National Day of Prayer Sept 16th, 2005

    Proclamation by the President:

    National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of Hurricane Katrina

    A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

    Hurricane Katrina was one of the worst natural disasters in our Nation's history and has caused unimaginable devastation and heartbreak throughout the Gulf Coast Region. A vast coastline of towns and communities has been decimated. Many lives have been lost, and hundreds of thousands of our fellow Americans are suffering great hardship. To honor the memory of those who lost their lives, to provide comfort and strength to the families of the victims, and to help ease the burden of the survivors, I call upon all Americans to pray to Almighty God and to perform acts of service.

    As we observe a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of Hurricane Katrina, we pledge our support for those who have been injured and for the communities that are struggling to rebuild. We offer thanks to God for the goodness and generosity of so many Americans who have come together to provide relief and bring hope to fellow citizens in need. Our Nation is united in compassion for the victims and in resolve to overcome the tremendous loss that has come to America. We will strive together in this effort, and we will prevail through perseverance and prayer.

    Americans are reaching out to those who suffer by opening their hearts, homes, and communities. Their actions demonstrate the greatest compassion one person may show to another: to love your neighbor as yourself. Across our Nation, so many selfless deeds reflect the promise of the Scripture: "For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in." I encourage all Americans to respond with acts of kindness in the days ahead. By contributing time, money, or needed goods to a relief organization and by praying for the survivors and those in recovery efforts, we can make a tremendous difference in the lives of those in need.

    Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath resulted in a considerable loss of life. We pray that God will bless the souls of the lost, and that He will comfort their families and friends and all lives touched by this disaster. As the American people unite to help those who are hurting, we share a determination to stand by those affected by Hurricane Katrina in the months and years ahead as they rebuild their lives and reclaim their future. We are determined that the Gulf Coast region will rise again. The tasks before us are enormous, and so is the heart of America. We will continue to comfort and care for the survivors. We will once again show the world that the worst adversities bring out the best in the American people.

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Friday, September 16, 2005, as a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of Hurricane Katrina. I ask that the people of the United States and places of worship mark this National Day of Prayer and Remembrance with memorial services and other appropriate observances. I also encourage all Americans to remember those who have suffered in the disaster by offering prayers and giving their hearts and homes for those who now, more than ever, need our compassion and our support. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirtieth.

    GEORGE W. BUSH