Silver Spring, October 31, 2012. [NADNewsPoint]. According to U.S. news reports, at least 48 people are dead and eight million are without power because of “Superstorm” Sandy that recently whipped through the East Coast.
Adventist Community Services Disaster Response (ACS DR) teams in partnership with other voluntary agencies and Federal and state governments, meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those affected by providing food, blankets, clothing, and other much needed relief supplies. “Its important for our church to be there to help people who have been affected by widespread devastation,” said Pastor Dan Jackson, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America.
Financial donations are collected throughout ACS DR that will bring vital supplies and relief to people devastated by Hurricane Sandy.
Adventist Churches small groups such as youth groups, study groups and others, are helping by making personal care kits to hand out to people who are not able to use their homes due to flooding or wind and tree damage.
“Ninety percent of the population in Long Island does not have electricity, which is ma
king communication by phone and email very difficult” said Rueben Merino, ACS Director at Greater New York Conference (GNYC) territory. Tuesday, the Adventist Youth Emergency Services (AYES) Corps (picture - youth enjoying to help) were doing assessments around the city including Long Island and Westchester County. It is noted that AYES Corps members have also been conducting disaster trainings prior to Hurricane Sandy and were already at work in some of the New York shelters while the storm was going on. It is estimated that at least 42 Adventist churches (4,500 members) are in the most affected areas. Many families were affected by the passage of Sandy.
“There are Adventist churches currently open as shelters in the Bronx,” said Rueben Merino, “and Bronx and Queens Adventist Centers are going to be used as collection centers and warehouse.”
The GNYC ACS DR is planning to raise $100,000 for 100 Adventist families that have total or partial loss because of the flooding. They want to give $1,000 to each family or adjust that amount depending on the need. "In addition, I'm working with my administration to collect a special offering for the following two Sabbaths in all the GNYC churches," said Merino, "and Wednesday we are planning to visit some of the 20 families that we already know have had their homes flooded."
A team of trained disaster responders from Union College’s International Rescue and Relief left early Tuesday morning for a staging area in Pennsylvania, where they will help East Coast residents deal with the aftermath of Sandy. Led by instructors Brian Hauff and Aaron Kent, the team of 10 students has been instructed to pack for light search and rescue and swift water rescue operations. The group, is prepared for immediate deployment.