Day 26: Updates from the Gulf Coast

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Hurricane Laura & Hurricane Sally banner

Day 26: Fresh Volunteers Needed Urgently

Sabrina More, Disaster Relief Volunteers Manager

My position with Inspiritus doesn’t put me in front of survivors very often. I’m more behind the scenes working than anything. I love it when I’m able to go out into the field and speak with survivors. Yesterday I was able to do just that. I was able to visit them, hear their stories and offer them assistance. So many are still in need of help to take those first steps of recovery. Often times, survivors are overwhelmed and are unable to move forward with the weight of destruction on their shoulders. I love it when we are able to bring hope, to take that burden over for them for a little while and help take those first steps."

-Sabrina More (pictured above) with a homeowner in Alabama

HURRICANE SALLY

Our volunteers are making lasting impressions on the homeowners they're serving, and vice versa. Many homeowners' homes have been severely damaged or destroyed. They are so appreciative of our volunteers, even offering home cooked meals in expression of their gratitude. The relationships we form while volunteering makes the work we do that much more rewarding.

We still have a huge need for volunteers in Alabama. Volunteers who've been with us between Hurricane Laura and Sally will begin going home today. We need new volunteers to work through October 22nd ASAP. Please join us!

In Alabama so far, our disaster response volunteer teams have completed:

  • 48 job requests

- 32 tree jobs

- 6 debris removals

- 5 muck & gut

- 5 roof tarping jobs

  • 66 home assessments

  • 17 homes are now ready for work

  • 7 homes are underway now

Our sincerest thanks and gratitude go out to The City of Orange Beach for fuel, The Island Church for housing and staging, and The Rothrock Foundation for meals.

The damages from this latest hurricane will be felt for months and years to come, but with your help and new volunteers, we can get more hurricane survivors back on the path from surviving to thriving.

Damage to a home in Orange Beach, AL

HOW YOU CAN HELP

We're working closely with the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA to support communities most in need of our assistance. Gifts to the ELCA Southeastern Synod Disaster Response will be used to support disaster relief on the ground, as well. The partnership between the Southeastern Synod and Inspiritus leverages the strengths and resources each bring to the table for the benefit of individuals and communities in need of hope and healing in the wake of a disaster.

Those we're serving are experiencing multiple disasters at the same time: COVID-19 and Hurricane Sally. Through your generosity and support, we're bringing hope to the people who need it most. Thank you for your donations. If you haven't given yet, please consider giving today. Your help during the early days of a disaster is critical.

To learn more about volunteering with this response, please register here.

If you can't join us in person, you can still be one of our "Home Heroes" by fundraising for us. It's so quick & easy, start fundraising now and share your campaign within minutes to your family and friends. If you'd like help setting up your campaign, please email Sarah.Burke@weinspirit.org for a consultation.

It costs approximately $50 per day to make sure our volunteer housing and vehicles are fogged and sanitized daily, and our volunteers have the PPE equipment they need to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Could you please sponsor our volunteers for a day, to help keep them safe?

Not only are we in the midst of COVID-19 and our Hurricane Sally response, now Tropical Storm Delta could hit the Gulf Coast as a hurricane this week. Thank you for your donations. If you haven't given yet, please consider giving today. Your help during the early days of a disaster is critical.

Help at this stage ensures unserved communities impacted by Hurricane Sally will receive free roof tarping, muck and gut services, debris removal, and spontaneous volunteer leadership. We will continue to share updates from the ground as our teams assist those impacted by Hurricane Sally. Through your generosity and support, we're bringing hope to the people who need it most.

Please join us in prayer for the volunteers and local residents along the Gulf Coast.

Gratefully,
Virginia Spencer
Vice President of Development
Inspiritus

Our Hurricane Laura Response is made possible through the above partnerships.

Our Hurricane Laura Response is made possible through the above partnerships.