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May 27, 2011

Tornado Disaster Zones Seek Donations

Tornado ravaged towns in Mississippi, Alabama, and Missouri are seeking help to recover from the severe weather over the past month. 

 

The Rev. Frank Sierra of St. Phillips, Joplin, is the father of Christ Church Cathedral's former publications editor, Jason Sierra. The elder Sierra spoke with Christ Church and requested donations and prayer.

 

"Episcopal Relief and Development has already sent a check for $10,000," he said. "The diocese [of Western Missouri] will be the coordinator of the 'Tornado Fund' but mostly at the discretion of [the Rev. Steven Wilson] from Carthage and myself. Right now there are a lot of donations of food, water, clothes. We need batteries, baby diapers, toiletries, undergarments, socks, and baby items such as pacifiers, baby food, etc. In a few weeks we will need more because the initial flood of donations will slow considerably. Keep us all in your prayers."

 

To donate, visit the Diocese of West Missouri website. 

 

In the South, communities in Mississippi and Alabama are still recovering from storms. The Diocese of Texas deployed spiritual care teams to Mississippi on Friday morning to help storm survivors regain control of their lives. 

 

St. Luke's on the Lake, Austin, has been providing donations to several communities. Junior warden Allen Griswold is planning a third tornado relief mission trip departing June 2 to help three underserved rural communities in Mississippi and Alabama. According to his contacts, the need there is urgent as people are running out of food and diapers.

 

"I refuse to let this issue die," Griswold said. "These people are asking and begging for help, and I intend to see that they can depend on me, St. Luke’s on the Lake, and anyone else who wants to join in. I intend to...help them get back on their feet and rebuild their towns."

 

To donate to that effort, visit St. Luke's website or contact Allen Griswold.

 

Episcopal Relief and Development's US Disaster Response Program is currently working with the Episcopal communities in the areas above as well as North Carolina. Click here to donate.