Many churches in our diocese have sustained significant damage. Folks across the Midlands and the Upstate remain without electricity and water, and have limited access to cell phone service. In addition, our neighbors to the north in the Diocese of Western North Carolina are suffering. Flooding and the resultant landslides have devastated rural mountain communities leaving them without basic necessities. We can help! Please look through the below opportunities and either fill out the Diocesan Sign-up Sheet or contact Katie. You can email her at rector.stjohnscongaree@gmail.com or call/text my cell phone (in case the office is unoccupied) at (803) 386-7049. Please also visit our Diocesan Disaster Response webpage at: https://www.edusc.org/edusc-hurricane-helene-disaster-response-resources/

 

Make a Financial Donation

To support parishes in our Diocese, please write a check for my discretionary fund and drop it by the office. Please remember that if YOU are in crisis, my discretionary fund can help you. Contact me directly.

 

To support the Diocese of Western North Carolina, please give directly to them. Important: in the menu, select “Partners in Mission” and write “Hurricane Helene” in the Memo line.

 

 

Donate Supplies

Grace Episcopal Church in Camden is coordinating a large truck to deliver supplies to the Equestrian Center in Tryon, NC to help with distribution efforts in that area. They are scheduled to leave Camden Monday night October 7th. As you shop this week, please consider adding something to your cart from the list they provided. You may leave your items in the parish hall or in my office.

• Water

• Non-perishable Food items

• Hygiene Items

• Baby formula and diapers

• Towels

• Socks & underwear

• First Aid Kits

• Batteries and Flashlights

• Portable chargers & battery packs

• Animal Hay & Feed

• Dog and cat food, cat litter

• Shovels, tarps, chainsaws, work gloves

• Hand sanitizer

• Coolers

• Buckets and trash bags

 

Transport Supplies

If you are able to transport supplies to Camden (or elsewhere) in the coming weeks, please let me know. Trucks and trailers especially welcome, but can use all the help we can get.

 

Join a Work Team

Tree Removal at Holy Cross Simpsonville

The Rev. Dorian del Priore at Holy Cross informed us this morning of extensive fallen trees and damage to their property. He was quoted by professional tree removal companies $100,000 to get their property clean and safe. This is not a viable option. If you have a chainsaw and you know how to use it, please email Katie directly. There will be teams going up to help remove limbs at Holy Cross in the coming week.

 

Work Team Traveling to Aiken 10/4

A team from Trinity is traveling to the Aiken/Augusta area tomorrow morning 10/4 to do some yard clean up and perform minor repairs on some churches in the area. Please contact Katie ASAP if you are interested in joining them. You will have to provide your own transportation.

 

Help Rebuild in Western North Carolina

Right now, the State of North Carolina and the Western Diocese are requesting folks to stay out of the area to clear the roads for first responders. Once they give us a green light to move in and help rebuild, there will be several teams from the Diocese organizing to go up and help. Fill out the sign up sheet above if you are interested in receiving communications about this effort.

 

Prayer

Please pray for all of those who have been affected by this storm.

 

God of wind and water, stillness and storm, your Spirit sweeps over the surface of the sea. Give us faith to seek you in times of trouble. Reach out your hand to us when we are sinking so that we may believe and worship you; through Jesus Christ, Sovereign and Savior. Amen. (Episcopal Relief and Development website)