Help Empower Tennessee Tornado Storm Survivors

Dear Friend,

Thousands of Tennessee residents remain without power after a deadly string of tornadoes tore through the state on Saturday, December 9th, destroying countless homes, businesses, and killing at least six people. The Nashville suburbs of Hendersonville, Gallatin and Madison − where three people died - were greatly impacted, as they were hit by a tornado with max wind speeds of 125 mph.

In the wake of the devastating tornadoes, Inspiritus is joining hands with Thrivent to make a difference in the lives of those impacted. Your support plays a crucial role in helping us empower survivors, rebuild lives, and address the compounding impact of devastating tornadoes like these. 

To help give hope to as many survivors as possible, Thrivent has made the commitment to match your generosity. For every $2 you donate through our online disaster response campaign, Thrivent will provide a $1 match (up to a maximum of $15,000). We believe in the power of community, and your support can amplify our impact.

You can make a Thrivent contribution today by clicking the button below.

WHAT WE ARE DOING

Inspiritus Disaster Response Teams are currently being deployed to Hendersonville, Tennessee to assist local residents on their road to recovery. Our services will be provided wherever needed most, with priority on assisting those who are the most vulnerable, families with children, seniors, veterans, and especially low-income households. Inspiritus staff are communicating with local officials and partnering organizations to coordinate our efforts as quickly and efficiently as possible. 

As things develop, we will keep you updated on the need in the Hendersonville community and how you can get involved.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Hurricane Idalia Response Update

Dear Friend,

It's been six weeks since Hurricane Idalia made landfall - striking Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. This devastating storm brought 130 mph winds, 12 ft. storm surges and caused significant damage to thousands of homes and businesses across the southeastern United States. Idalia reached Valdosta, Georgia as a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. Over 1,000 power lines were damaged, leaving 97% of Lowndes county in total darkness.

On September 1, 2023 Inspiritus Disaster Response teams were deployed to Valdosta, GA to assist Hurricane Idalia storm survivors on their road to recovery by providing free Debris Removal, Muck & Gut, Roof-Tarping, Chainsaw, and Heavy Equipment services. These services were provided wherever needed most, with priority to those who are most vulnerable, including families with children, seniors, veterans, and especially low-income households.

Throughout the 4-week deployment in Valdosta, GA (ending October 1, 2023), Inspiritus Disaster Relief partners, volunteers, and supporters helped empower 237 storm survivors on their path from surviving to thriving.

WHAT WE DID:

• Capacity Building: Inspiritus staff coordinated with local emergency and city/county officials to assist with local capacity building efforts. While staff actively supported operations in and around the Valdosta area, they also assisted leaders in other local towns and counties to help them assess and manage the people and resources they needed. 

• Volunteer Housing: Inspiritus established a volunteer housing base at Valdosta Church of the Nazarene, with the capacity to accommodate overnight volunteers on a daily basis. 

• Home Assessments, Debris Removal, Chainsawing, Muck & Gut, Roof-Tarping and Heavy Equipment Services: Volunteers conducted Home Assessments and provided free Muck & Gut, Chainsawing, Debris Removal, Roof-Tarping and Heavy Equipment services for local residents’ homes where it was safe to enter.

• Support & Care: Volunteers accompanied survivors as they navigated one of the most difficult tragedies and challenges of their lives. In this accompaniment, we walk alongside each individual we come in contact with, helping them to tap into the resilience within themselves. Prayer and spiritual encouragement is often greatly appreciated by many survivors and Inspiritus volunteers often provide this comforting and empowering form of care, when it is welcomed. Hope and hugs are often powerfully strengthening for survivors during their darkest hours.

Thank you for your continued support and helping impacted communities find strength and resiliency during these difficult times. While our Hurricane Idalia response operation has come to a close, you can learn more about Inspiritus' Disaster Relief efforts and the ways you can get involved by clicking the button below.

Sincerely,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Hurricane Idalia Response Update: Day 13

Dear Friend,

It has been 2 weeks since Hurricane Idalia made landfall - striking Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Thanks to the generosity of our Disaster Relief partners, volunteers, and supporters like you, Inspiritus Disaster Relief teams are on the ground in Valdosta, Georgia empowering Hurricane Idalia storm survivors on their road to recovery.  

When the storm reached the southeast corner of Georgia, it devastated the city of Valdosta - with flooding, downed trees, and power outages being reported in Valdosta and the surrounding counties. In coordination with local and national partners and government agencies, we have been on the ground, helping to support the hardest-hit communities in Lowndes County, Georgia and have already completed 60 homes since our arrival.

Given the vast amount of downed trees on homes, business and public spaces, the majority of the need so far has been centered around Chainsawing and Debris Removal. We have also tended to homeowners in need of Muck & Gut and Roof-Tarping services. Our help is being provided wherever needed most, and at no cost to the homeowner. Inspiritus teams prioritize assistance to those who are most vulnerable, including families with children, seniors, veterans, and especially low-income households.

We continue to be encouraged by the open-arms, strength, and resiliency of the residents of Valdosta. Despite being personally impacted by Hurricane Idalia, the congregants of the Valdosta Church of the Nazarene have opened their doors to feed and house Inspiritus volunteers, joined our response teams in the field, and provided critical support in welcoming and recruiting new volunteers at the Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) this past weekend. They are giving of their time, hands, and hearts to help their neighbors - despite many, including the Pastor and his family, being displaced themselves. 

On behalf of Inspiritus staff and communities impacted by Hurricane Idalia, we are grateful for the generous support from partners, like Valdosta Church of the Nazarene, The Home Depot Foundation, Serve Comm, Rothrock Foundation, local government agencies, volunteers, and numerous others that are helping survivors safely return home.

We will continue our Response in and around the Valdosta area through the end of September. There is still time to help and a great need for assistance of any volunteer skill level. Please call the Volunteer Hotline at (229) 531-3523, to learn how you and/or your group can get involved. The base of operations will be maintained at the Valdosta Church of the Nazarene. Consider joining us there, as we provide urgent help to the individuals and families impacted by Hurricane Idalia.

WHAT WE ARE DOING

Project Tasks & Activities:

• Capacity Building: Inspiritus staff are coordinating with local emergency and city/county officials to assist with local capacity building efforts. While staff are actively supporting operations in and around the Valdosta area, they are also assisting leaders in other local towns and counties to help them assess and manage the people and resources they need. Towards the end of our Response, Inspiritus staff plan to offer advisement and support for the development of Long-Term Recovery planning and committees, as needed. 

• Volunteer Housing: Inspiritus has setup volunteer housing at Valdosta Church of the Nazarene, with the capacity to accommodate overnight volunteers on a daily basis. We would like to give a huge thank you to Sever Comm, who has provided our volunteers on base with a shower and laundry trailer.  

• Home Assessments, Debris Removal, Roof-Tarping and Chainsaw Services: Volunteers are conducting home assessments and are providing free Chainsaw, Debris Removal, and Roof-Tarping services for local residents’ homes where it's safe to enter.

• Support & Care: Volunteers are accompanying survivors as they navigate one of the most difficult tragedies and challenges of their lives. In this accompaniment, we walk alongside each individual we come in contact with, helping them to tap into the resilience within themselves. Prayer and spiritual encouragement is often greatly appreciated by many survivors and Inspiritus volunteers often provide this comforting and empowering form of care, when it is welcomed. Hope and hugs are often powerfully strengthening for survivors during their darkest hours.

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS

This impactful work would not be possible without the support and generosity of our Disaster Relief Partners.

• Information Technology Disaster Resource Center (ITDRC)

• Lowndes Emergency Management Agency 

• Rothrock Foundation

• Serve Comm

• Sirens Project

• The Home Depot Foundation

• Valdosta Church of the Nazarene

• Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority

HOW YOU CAN HELP

DONATE:

Donate to Inspiritus. The more funding we raise, the longer our teams can stay on the ground continuing to help families and individuals impacted by Hurricane Idalia. Your support will provide free Debris Removal, Roof-Tarping, and Chainsaw services to help families affected by the storm, especially those who can't recover without help.

VOLUNTEER:

This work would not be possible without the HEROIC volunteers and Team Leads living at our local Volunteer Housing Camp, who have come in from around the country to lend their time, hands, and hearts to empowering the residents of South Georgia.

Please consider volunteering and joining our team on the ground! You will not only impact the life of storm survivors, but will also be forever changed from this rewarding volunteer experience. You can sign up to volunteer by clicking the button below. You can also sign up to volunteer by calling our Volunteer Hotline at (229) 531-3523. 

Prayerfully consider joining us on the ground in Valdosta, GA now through September 30th. All skills and ages are welcomed. Please call the Volunteer Hotline at (229) 531-3523 or visit www.weinspirit.org/drvolunteers to learn more.
 

Sincerely,
Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Hurricane Idalia Response Update: Day 7

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO

"It has been a whirlwind 24 hours. On my visit this week to Ground Zero for Hurricane Idalia in Georgia, I met Lonnie Grant, pastor of the Valdosta Nazarene church. The church has laid out the warm welcome mat and is hosting Inspiritus volunteers around the clock and from around the country.

In the photo above, you will see that his home was nearly destroyed when a 80 foot pine tree came slicing through the side of the house while he and his wife Donna were inside. They have been displaced, are living in a motel, and likely won't be able to return to their home until sometime in 2024. When I asked him about what brings him comfort and support, he said, 'what brings me comfort is offering help to someone else...because I know what it feels like to live through the storm.'

This is the second disaster that Lonnie has been through. That is partly why he and his church members are sacrificing their space, so that Inspiritus volunteers can have a simple place to lay their head at night. The church kitchen, fellowship hall, and every Sunday school classroom is occupied by volunteers.

There is no end in sight to the work. In the photo below, you see a map of all the home owners in Valdosta who have requested help. We learned from the Emergency Management Agency that 1000 homes have either been destroyed or are majorly impacted by the storm in the Valdosta area alone."

WHAT WE ARE DOING

Project Tasks & Activities:

• Capacity Building: Inspiritus staff are coordinating with local emergency and city/county officials to assist with local capacity building efforts. While staff are actively supporting operations in and around the Valdosta area, they are also assisting leaders in other local towns and counties to help them assess and manage the people and resources they need. Towards the end of our Response, Inspiritus staff plan to offer advisement and support for the development of Long-Term Recovery planning and committees, as needed. 

• Volunteer Housing: Inspiritus has setup volunteer housing at Valdosta Church of the Nazarene, with the capacity to accommodate overnight volunteers on a daily basis. We would like to give a huge thank you to Sever Comm, who has provided our volunteers on base with a shower and laundry trailer.  

• Home Assessments, Debris Removal, Roof-Tarping and Chainsaw Services: Volunteers are conducting home assessments and are providing free Chainsaw, Debris Removal, and Roof-Tarping services for local residents’ homes where it's safe to enter.

• Support & Care: Volunteers are accompanying survivors as they navigate one of the most difficult tragedies and challenges of their lives. In this accompaniment, we walk alongside each individual we come in contact with, helping them to tap into the resilience within themselves. Prayer and spiritual encouragement is often greatly appreciated by many survivors and Inspiritus volunteers often provide this comforting and empowering form of care, when it is welcomed. Hope and hugs are often powerfully strengthening for survivors during their darkest hours.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

VOLUNTEER:

This work would not be possible without the HEROIC volunteers and Team Leads living at our local Volunteer Housing Camp, who have come in from around the country to lend their time, hands, and hearts to empowering the residents of South Georgia.

Inspiritus staff are on the ground setting up a Volunteer Reception Center (VRC), which will be up and running by 7:30am on Saturday, September 9th. The VRC will be located at 1901 Barack Obama Blvd, Valdosta, GA 31601 and will act as a centralized hub to recruit, organize, and manage daily volunteers. Stopby this Saturday between 7:30am-4pm to learn how you can help.

Please consider volunteering and joining our team on the ground! You will not only impact the life of storm survivors, but will also be forever changed from this rewarding volunteer experience. You can sign up to volunteer by clicking the button below.

DONATE:

Donate to Inspiritus. The more funding we raise, the longer our teams can stay on the ground continuing to help families and individuals impacted by Hurricane Idalia. Your support will provide free Debris Removal, Roof-Tarping, and Chainsaw services to help families affected by the storm, especially those who can't recover without help.

Prayerfully consider joining us on the ground in Valdosta, GA now through September 30th. All skills and ages are welcomed. Please call the Volunteer Hotline at 1-800-775-0906 or visit www.weinspirit.org/drvolunteers to learn more.

Sincerely,

John R. Moeller Jr.
President & CEO
Inspiritus

Hurricane Idalia Response Update

Dear Friend,
 
As you may know, Hurricane Idalia struck central and northern Florida on August 30th, bringing sustained winds speeds near 125-mph and a storm surge of 16ft along Florida’s north-west coastline. The Category 3 hurricane then continued its path of destruction as it tore northward into Georgia and the Carolinas. Once reaching Georgia, Idalia moved through the city of Valdosta as a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 105-mph. Over a thousand power poles in Lowndes County snapped, leaving 97% of the county in total darkness. According to preliminary cost estimates, Hurricane Idalia has caused between $12 billion and $20 billion in damages. 

Inspiritus Disaster Relief has deployed a team to Valdosta, GA and has committed to a 30-day response on the ground. We have established a base of operations at the Valdosta Church of the Nazarene and are assisting Hurricane Idalia storm survivors on their road to recovery by providing free Debris Removal, Roof-Tarping, and Chainsaw services, along with hope and encouragement.

Inspiritus staff are on the ground establishing a VRC (Volunteer Reception Center), which will be up and running by 7:30am on Saturday, September 9th. We are also deploying assessment teams to impacted areas to determine the extent of support that will be needed to help survivors on their path to thriving. We have been coordinating with local and state officials, as well as our partners, to bring much needed assistance to the impacted residents of South Georgia.

There is an urgent need for assistance as we continue to empower the families and individuals impacted by Hurricane Idalia on their journey from surviving to thriving. As we continue our response efforts in Valdosta, GA, volunteers are needed to help survivors recover from this devastating storm. 

WHAT WE ARE DOING

Project Tasks & Activities:

• Capacity Building: Inspiritus staff are coordinating with local emergency and city/county officials to assist with local capacity building efforts. While staff are actively supporting operations in and around the Valdosta area, they are also assisting leaders in other local towns and counties to help them assess and manage the people and resources they need. Towards the end of our Response, Inspiritus staff plan to offer advisement and support for the development of Long-Term Recovery planning and committees, as needed. 

• Volunteer Housing: Inspiritus has setup volunteer housing at Valdosta Church of the Nazarene, with the capacity to accommodate overnight volunteers on a daily basis. This base of operations has been without water and power since our team's arrival. Special thanks to the local Planet Fitness in Valdosta, GA and Valdosta Fire Station No. 4 for opening their shower facilities to the community, including our volunteers on the ground.  

• Home Assessments, Debris Removal, Roof-Tarping and Chainsaw Services: Volunteers are conducting home assessments and are providing free Chainsaw, Debris Removal, and Roof-Tarping services for local residents’ homes where it's safe to enter.

• Support & Care: Volunteers are accompanying survivors as they navigate one of the most difficult tragedies and challenges of their lives. In this accompaniment, we walk alongside each individual we come in contact with, helping them to tap into the resilience within themselves. Prayer and spiritual encouragement is often greatly appreciated by many survivors and Inspiritus volunteers often provide this comforting and empowering form of care, when it is welcomed. Hope and hugs are often powerfully strengthening for survivors during their darkest hours.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

DONATE:

Donate to Inspiritus. The more funding we raise, the longer our teams can stay on the ground continuing to help families and individuals impacted by Hurricane Idalia. Your support will provide free Debris Removal, Roof-Tarping, and Chainsaw services to help families affected by the storm, especially those who can't recover without help.

VOLUNTEER:

This work would not be possible without the HEROIC volunteers and Team Leads living at our local Volunteer Housing Camp, who have come in from around the country to lend their time, hands, and hearts to empowering the residents of South Georgia.

Please consider volunteering and joining our team on the ground! You will not only impact the life of storm survivors, but will also be forever changed from this rewarding volunteer experience. You can sign up to volunteer by clicking the button below.

Prayerfully consider joining us on the ground in Valdosta, GA now through September 30th. All skills and ages are welcomed. Please call the Volunteer Hotline at 1-800-775-0906 or visit www.weinspirit.org/drvolunteers to learn more.

Sincerely,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Disaster Teams Deploy to South Georgia

Dear Friend,
 
On the morning of Wednesday, August 30th, Hurricane Idalia made landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast - bringing 125-mph winds, localized flooding, and leaving nearly 300,000 households without power; impacting countless residents of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Touching down in Florida as a Category 3 Hurricane, Idalia made its devastating path across southern Georgia, impacting the city of Valdosta, GA and the surrounding counties. 

Valdosta city officials were asking individuals in that area to shelter in place because of “significant damage” caused by the storm. “Many roads are impassable due to flooding, debris, or lines in the roadway. The recovery efforts are underway, but the damage is vast,” the city said in a Facebook Post.

WHAT WE ARE DOING

Inspiritus Disaster Response teams are currently being deployed to Valdosta, Georgia to assist Hurricane Idalia storm survivors on their road to recovery. We will be providing free Chainsaw Services, while assessing the needs of local residents. Through these assessments, Debris Removal, Muck & Gut, and Roof-Tarping jobs will be added to the queue, allowing homeowners to receive the assistance they need. Our services will be provided wherever needed most, with priority on assisting those who are the most vulnerable, families with children, seniors, veterans, and especially low-income households. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP

As things develop, we will keep you updated on the volunteer needs for this Response operation. In the meantime, we hope you will consider joining us in prayer and thoughts for those tragically impacted by this disaster, and the responders who are helping. If you would like to learn more about Inspiritus' Disaster Relief efforts, and the ways you can help survivors, click the button below. 

Thank you for your support.
 

Sincerely,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus