A Local Ministry
A Local Ministry
Disaster Relief
First Methodist has the desire to be prepared during hurricane season and ready to respond in a disaster. We have Response Team Leaders, Site supervisors, a Compassionate Care Team and volunteers ready to assist in an event of a disaster.
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The Response Team Leaders will focus on helping organize teams, communicate & coordinate with Disaster Coordinators, and other volunteers, gather supplies and make sure we have all the materials we need to work, monitor assignments, communicate needs of members and volunteers and oversee projects as needed. The other group of volunteers we are recruiting are Site Supervisors. They will be responsible to communicate with Response Team Leaders, create a plan to execute with sufficient volunteers, & equip, prepare and assign volunteers to onsite tasks and supervise. In addition, we have a Compassionate Care team of volunteers that will offer empathy, listening, encouragement to members impacted by disaster and help to connect them with a Stephen Minister for long-term support.
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If you are a church member, it is important to update your contact information in the church data base, REALM, so that we are able to contact you in an emergency. For more information, or to join our team contact Paula Niz.
Need Help? Or Want to Help
We pray that you have power restored and are in recovery mode from Hurricane Beryl. Even though this was forecasted to be an active tropical storm season, I don't think any of us were prepared for damages quite this early in the season.
Many of you have been in recovery mode at your own family homes and have been helping your neighbors. However, some of you have reached out to us and asked about a coordinated response and resources to pass along to your congregation's members and community. See below for some resources and ways people can serve their neighbors who are struggling with recovery.
Resources
These are resources we can provide for any disasters.
Crisis Cleanup Hotline
For anyone who still needs help with debris cleanup, tarping or clearing wet interior items, call the Crisis Cleanup Hotline at
979-217-3791.
FEMA
For anyone who needs to file a FEMA claim, they may call 800-621-3362 or apply online at Click Here to Apply for FEMA .
Food Bank
For anyone who needs to find Houston Food Bank distribution locations they can enter their zip code & Click Here to Find a Houston Food Bank Distribution Near You.
Serving Opportunities
1. Your congregation may search for people who need help and form your own teams to serve by registering at Crisis Cleanup. Click Here to Register as a User on Crisis Cleanup: Congregations May Apply then click the Register yellow box on the left hand side. You will then get a link to set up a user name and password. This will allow you to see all the people who have registered a need in Crisis Cleanup in your area. There were almost 2,800 requests for assistance as of yesterday afternoon.
2. If your congregation can't for a team and would like to join other teams being assembled by The Restoration Team, click the link below for a list of current serve dates and sign up as you are able. Click Here to Register to Volunteer with The Restoration Team This same link will remain active and new serve dates will be added.
3. Crisis Cleanup has a need for remote phone operators to help take calls from the comfort of your own home using your own cell phone. There is a need for English and Spanish speakers. You need a cell phone and a computer/laptop. If you are interested in serving in this way, contact Sonya.Meyers@txcdr.org.
Additional Local Partners
Catholic Charities, Covenant House, House of Amos, Life Center for the Homeless,
Wesley Community Center and West Houston Assistance Ministries