Day 26: Updates from the Gulf Coast

Day 26: Fresh Volunteers Needed Urgently

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.

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.

Day 22: Updates from the Gulf Coast

WE NEED NEW VOLUNTEERS ON THE GROUND IN ALABAMA

Our volunteers on the ground in Alabama

HURRICANE SALLY

"Over two days’ time, and in 85+ degree temperatures, a volunteer Lutheran disaster relief organization named Inspiritus descended on my parent’s property like the exact opposite of a biblical plague and voluntarily (FREE OF CHARGE) completed what might’ve been over $25K worth of tree cutting and removal. This is an amazing example of how we all want humans to be. I cannot thank these people and this organization enough for doing for us what we were unable to do for ourselves."

- Aaron Cockson

We have a huge need for volunteers in Alabama. Home damages extend across Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Daphne, Dauphin Island, and Baldwin County. Volunteers who've served 3-4 weeks between Hurricane Laura and Sally will begin going home next Tuesday, so we need new volunteers to work through October 22nd ASAP. Please join us!

Want to see what volunteering on a disaster response mission is like?
Click on the following link to watch: A day In the life of a volunteer

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

• 750 volunteer hours

• 133 volunteer days

• 55 home assessments

• 19 homes are now ready for work

• 10 homes are underway now

• 33 job requests have been completed

"Inspiritus volunteers are doing an incredible job. They've gone from working in Louisiana to Alabama. After weeks of working, they're tired. We need a new wave of volunteers to join them."

-John Boettner
Southeastern Synod Disaster Ministry Committee
Shepherd of the Hills, Birmingham, AL.

Our sincerest thanks and gratitude go out to The Island Church in Orange Beach for housing and staging, The Rothrock Foundation for generously providing meals, and the St. Clair Baptist Association and the Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief (SBC Disaster Relief) for laundry services.

A huge thank you goes out to The City of Orange Beach today. They just brought in a 100 gallon tank of gas to our Island Church camp, to keep equipment and vehicles fueled and ready to do more work in Baldwin County.

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.

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?

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.

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.

Day 20: Updates from the Gulf Coast

INSPIRITUS DISASTER RELIEF: ON THE GROUND IN ALABAMA

Sabrina More, our Disaster Relief Volunteer Manager helping a homeowner

HURRICANE SALLY

Currently, we have close to 40 jobs in the queue (with more coming in daily) to be worked on. There is a huge need here, especially in Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Daphne, Dauphin Island, and throughout Baldwin County. The storm has now left the current news cycle, and there are not many other organizations on the ground helping these hurricane survivors. If you'd like to volunteer with us, we need your help. Please join us!

Due to the high level of local need for volunteers, we’re extending our Hurricane Sally Response to a 4-week operation. Many of our volunteers have been serving for four weeks, between Hurricane Laura and Sally. New volunteers are needed to provide them with relief, and replace those who need to return home. We need new volunteers to support this two week extension.

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 here and share your campaign within minutes to your family and friends. If you'd like help setting up your campaign, Sarah Burke is happy to walk you through it. Please email her for a consultation at Sarah.Burke@weinspirit.org

We've heard from so many kind homeowners over the past week. Here is what one homeowner had to say:

"Inspiritus has had a team working at my house for two days now. I could not have done this work by myself. I'm just calling to say thank you."

- Resident of Orange Beach, AL

We even had a visit from Mayor Tony Kennon of the City of Orange Beach. The Mayor stopped by for a tour of our temporary base and to commend our volunteer efforts.

Our sincerest thanks and gratitude go out to The Island Church in Orange Beach for housing our response team, as well as providing a large garage for staging and storing our tools and equipment. Our daily thanks goes out to The Rothrock Foundation for generously providing meals, and to the representatives from the St. Clair Baptist Association and the Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief (SBC Disaster Relief) for their assistance with laundry services.

The damages from this latest hurricane will be felt for months and years to come:

• Many homes have suffered flooding and water damages, and will require significant mucking and gutting to remove flooring, ceilings, insulation, sheet rock, cabinetry, and damaged household goods and furniture

• Extensive chainsawing and roof tarping services are needed to remove downed trees and protect damaged homes from further water damages.

HURRICANE LAURA

Last week, our Inspiritus disaster response team evacuated from Southwest Louisiana due to the threat from Tropical Storm Beta.  There is more work to be done. It's not too late to donate to efforts there. Thrivent is still matching your donations.

Mayor Tony Kennon discussing response work with volunteers at our Island Church base. To watch his briefing and hear his thoughts on Inspiritus, click here (14:11 min mark):

HOW YOU CAN HELP

We're working closely with the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA to assess the 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. Whether in the immediate days following a disaster or years after its initial impact, the vital work of disaster ministry has been a priority for the Southeastern Synod for many years.

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, Hurricane Laura, and now 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.

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.

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.

Day 18: Updates from the Gulf Coast

INSPIRITUS DISASTER RELIEF: ON THE GROUND IN ALABAMA

HURRICANE SALLY

It’s a "mini reunion" for our Hurricane Sally response team in Orange Beach, Alabama. Volunteers from other disaster response missions have come together again to help homeowners recover from this latest storm.

Please join us!

The Rothrock Foundation is still here, generously providing delicious meals to all our staff members and volunteers on the ground. A shower trailer has been loaned to us by the Alabama St. Clair Baptist Association. Three dedicated ladies from this association will be providing laundry services for each of our volunteers. Special thanks to these ladies for serving as representatives of the St. Clair Baptist Association and the Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief (SBC Disaster Relief).

Our sincerest thanks and gratitude go out to The Island Church in Orange Beach for housing our response team, as well as providing a large garage for staging and storing all our tools and equipment.

The damages are extensive from this latest hurricane:

• Many homes have suffered flooding and water damages, and will require significant mucking and gutting to remove flooring, ceilings, insulation, sheet rock, cabinetry, and damaged household goods and furniture

• Extensive chainsawing and roof tarping services are needed to remove downed trees and protect damaged homes from further water damages.

HURRICANE LAURA

Last week, our Inspiritus disaster response team evacuated from Southwest Louisiana due to the threat from Tropical Storm Beta. 

There is more work to be done. It's not too late to donate to efforts there. Thrivent is still matching your donations.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

We're working closely with the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA to assess the 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. Whether in the immediate days following a disaster or years after its initial impact, the vital work of disaster ministry has been a priority for the Southeastern Synod for many years.

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, Hurricane Laura, and now 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.

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.

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.

Day 15: Updates from the Gulf Coast

INSPIRITUS DISASTER RELIEF: ON THE GROUND IN ALABAMA

HURRICANE LAURA

This past weekend, our Inspiritus disaster response team evacuated from Southwest Louisiana due to the threat from Tropical Storm Beta. 

There is more work to be done. It's not too late to donate to efforts there. Thrivent is still matching your donations.

Special thanks to The Home Depot Foundation for donating much needed supplies to our Inspiritus Disaster Relief efforts.

HURRICANE SALLY

Our disaster response teams are on the ground in Orange Beach, Alabama. They've been working hard assessing damages and clearing debris over the past several days.

What does all this damage from Hurricane Sally mean for residents impacted along the Gulf Coast?

• Widespread power outages (some communities are projected to be without power for up to a month or more)

• Many homes have suffered flooding and water damages, and will require significant mucking and gutting to remove flooring, ceilings, insulation, sheet rock, cabinetry, and damaged household goods and furniture

• Extensive chainsawing is needed to remove downed trees that are slowing local and emergency efforts to restore access to roads and power

• Power outages are creating an unprecedented interruption of jobs and education, as so many households are dependent on electricity to engage in virtual working and learning during this COVID-19 pandemic

HOW YOU CAN HELP

We're working closely with the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA to assess the 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. Whether in the immediate days following a disaster or years after its initial impact, the vital work of disaster ministry has been a priority for the Southeastern Synod for many years.

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, Hurricane Laura, and now 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.

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.

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.

Day 11: Updates from the Gulf Coast

DAY 11: UPDATES FROM THE GULF COAST

HURRICANE LAURA

On Saturday, our Inspiritus disaster response team evacuated from Southwest Louisiana due to the threat from Tropical Storm Beta. Coastal flooding from Beta's storm surge has already occurred on the Texas and Louisiana coasts.

Although our team has moved, it's not too late to donate to our efforts there. Thrivent is still matching your donations, and Inspiritus could still use your assistance!

"My “home” for the next couple of weeks. ️We have moved our base camp over to Orange Beach Alabama where Hurricane Sally has caused a lot of damage."

-Sabrina More, Disaster Relief Volunteer Manager

HURRICANE SALLY

Over the weekend, our response team moved to their new volunteer camp at The Island Church in Orange Beach, Alabama. Orange Beach is an area where Hurricane Sally, a Category 2 hurricane, caused significant destruction last week. Orange Beach received over 29.99 inches of rain, similar to nearby Pensacola, which received 24.80 inches.

What does all this damage from Hurricane Sally mean for residents impacted along the Gulf Coast?

• Widespread power outages (some communities are projected to be without power for up to a month or more)

• Many homes have suffered flooding and water damages, and will require significant mucking and gutting to remove flooring, ceilings, insulation, sheet rock, cabinetry, and damaged household goods and furniture

• Extensive chainsawing is needed to remove downed trees that are slowing local and emergency efforts to restore access to roads and power

• Power outages are creating an unprecedented interruption of jobs and education, as so many households are dependent on electricity to engage in virtual working and learning during this COVID-19 pandemic

• More flooding this week with over-flowing rivers and streams (according to the National Weather Service)

Temperatures get checked twice a day, as part of our COVID-19 safety measures

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

We're working closely with the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA to assess the communities most in need of our assistance.

Those we're serving are experiencing multiple disasters at the same time: COVID-19, Hurricane Laura, and now 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.

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.

We're also keeping a watchful eye on other developing storms. This hurricane season has produced almost twice the average number of storms with 23 named so far. The average hurricane season produces 12.

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.

Day 8: Two Hurricanes in One Week

DAY 8: UPDATES FROM THE GROUND

HURRICANE LAURA

Today is Day 8 on the ground for our Inspiritus disaster response team in Louisiana and Texas.

Here are the services that our teams are providing:

• Muck and gutting water-damaged sheet rock, insulation, ceilings and floors, etc.

• Tarping wind-damaged roofs to prevent further water damage

• Chainsawing large fallen trees (up to 20+ feet in diameter)

The Rothrock Foundation has kindly served over 500+ volunteer meals to our teams, and will continue to stay on site at our volunteer camp into the next week.

HURRICANE SALLY

Hurricane Sally made landfall this week as a Category 2 hurricane. With wind speeds of over 105 mph, it has brought severe flooding, downed trees, and massive power outages.

Our team of disaster response volunteers are preparing to deploy as needed. Currently, we are on the ground in Louisiana cleaning up debris, mucking and gutting, and tarping roofs after Hurricane Laura's impact. If needed, we are preparing to set up a second volunteer base to assist with clean-up from Hurricane Sally.

We are working closely with our partners in the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA to assess the communities most in need of our assistance across Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. Together, we are also in communication with local VOADs and emergency management officials to ensure we are aware of communities with unmet needs.

What does all this damage from Hurricane Sally mean for residents impacted along the Gulf Coast?

• Widespread power outages (some communities are projected to be without power for up to a month or more)

• Many homes have suffered flooding and water damages, and will require significant mucking and gutting to remove flooring, ceilings, insulation, sheet rock, cabinetry, and damaged household goods and furniture

• Extensive chainsawing is needed to remove downed trees that are slowing local and emergency efforts to restore access to roads and power

• Power outages are creating an unprecedented interruption of jobs and education, as so many households are dependent on electricity to engage in virtual working and learning during this COVID-19 pandemic

• More flooding is on the way this weekend and next week with over-flowing rivers and streams (according to the National Weather Service)

Temperatures get checked twice a day, as part of our COVID-19 safety measures

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Those we're serving are experiencing multiple disasters at the same time: COVID-19, Hurricane Laura, and now Hurricane Sally. Through your generosity and support, we're bringing hope to the people who need it most.
Please donate today. Your help during the early days of a disaster is critical.

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

We will continue to share updates from the ground as our teams assist Hurricane Laura survivors and prepare to assist those impacted by Hurricane Sally.

Another tropical storm is brewing in the Gulf of Mexico now, which is anticipated to impact the Gulf Coast next week. We are monitoring the trajectory of this storm closely and preparing.

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.

Day 6: Two Hurricanes in One Week

DAY 6: UPDATES FROM THE GROUND

HURRICANE LAURA

Today is Day 6 on the ground for our Inspiritus disaster response team in Louisana and Texas. We've accomplished a lot over the past week.

Here's what's happened:

• Completed 53 volunteer days (served over 5 days)

• 7 homes received roof tarping and/or muck and gutting

• Chainsawed 15+ large trees (up to 20 feet in diameter)

• The Rothrock Foundation has kindly served over 500 volunteer meals

HURRICANE SALLY

Now, Hurricane Sally made landfall yesterday as a Category 2 hurricane. With wind speeds of over 105 mph, it has brought the threat of deadly flooding, debris, and massive power outages to an already vulnerable region.

Our team of disaster response volunteers are preparing to deploy as needed. Currently, we are on the ground in Louisiana cleaning up debris, mucking and gutting, and tarping roofs after Hurricane Laura's impact. If needed, we are preparing to set up a second volunteer base in Alabama, Georgia or Mississippi to assist with clean-up from Hurricane Sally.

We are working closely with our partners, the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA and Lutheran Disaster Response, to assess the communities most in need of our assistance across Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. Together, we are also in communication with local VOADs and emergency management officials to ensure we are collaborating and prioritizing communities with unmet needs.

OUR PARTNERS:

We’re extremely grateful for our collaborative partners during this difficult time, especially:

• Southeastern Synod of the ELCA

• Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod of the ELCA

• Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response (Upbring)

• Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Bridge City, TX)

• Lutheran Disaster Response

• Rothrock Foundation

• Christian Emergency Network

• Thrivent

• Home Depot

Those we're serving are experiencing three disasters at the same time: COVID-19, Hurricane Laura, and now Hurricane Sally. Through your generosity and support, we're bringing hope to the people who need it most. Please donate today. Your help during the early days of a disaster is critical.

We will continue to share updates from the ground as our teams assist Hurricane Laura survivors and prepare to assist those in the path of Hurricane Sally.

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.

Hurricane Sally To Make Landfall Tonight

Dear Friend,

Hurricane Sally is bearing down on the Gulf Coast as we write this email. This slow-moving system is forecast to bring life-threatening storm surges and flash flooding to a region already impacted by Hurricane Laura. The governors of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi have requested pre-landfall emergency federal assistance ahead of the storm and each has declared a State of Emergency (CNN).

Our disaster relief teams are watching weather pattern developments closely. We're in conversation with our partners, including the ELCA Southeastern Synod.

Our disaster response teams are on the ground in Louisiana currently, assisting homeowners impacted by Hurricane Laura. We are preparing for the possibility of setting up an additional camp for volunteer responders in Mississippi or Alabama, after Hurricane Sally moves through, if needed.

Your prayers and donations are critical during this time. We could not do the work we do without your generosity. Financial donations to Inspiritus now, or in the earliest days of a response, support us in deploying a team of staff and skilled volunteers to assess need and establish a response program on the ground as soon as it is safe to do so.

While we pray that such support is not necessary, Inspiritus early response teams are preparing to lead volunteers in debris removal, chain-sawing, roof tarping, and other supports to damaged homes and properties.

Gifts to the ELCA Southeastern Synod Disaster Response will be used to support disaster relief on the ground, as well. Whether in the immediate days following a disaster or years after its initial impact, the vital work of disaster ministry has been a priority for the Southeastern Synod for many years.

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.

The Southeastern Synod has provided various shelter locations here for any individuals or families who are under evacuation orders by their state. Several ELCA congregations in Birmingham (AL), Jackson (MS), and Middle Tennessee are also welcoming evacuees on a limited basis.

We will continue to keep you informed on any plans for an organized disaster response as they develop. Our thoughts are with everyone in the path of this latest storm.

With Gratitude,

Virginia Spencer
Vice President of Development
Inspiritus

HURRICANE SALLY AS IT HEADS TO US GULF COAST (CNN)

HURRICANE LAURA RESPONSE: DAY 4 ON THE GROUND

HURRICANE LAURA RESPONSE: DAY 4 ON THE GROUND

Today is Day 4 on the ground for our Inspiritus disaster relief team. Our volunteers have been working hard over the past weekend, serving homeowners impacted by Hurricane Laura in collaboration and partnership with the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod and Upbring (Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response).

This past weekend brought heavy rain, heat and high humidity to the area and the communities we're serving. That did not stop Rex Rothrock of the Rothrock Foundation from cooking daily meals for our response team.

WHO WE ARE HELPING:

Our teams have been busy tarping roofs and removing massive debris around homes. Special priority has been given to homeowners who are uninsured, disabled, and/or elderly in the Lake Charles area. Our Hurricane Laura response reach extends to homeowners between Orange County, TX, and the Calcasieu Parish, LA.

Now, on top of everything, Hurricane Sally is projected to hit the of coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama as a Category 2 hurricane Tuesday morning, less than three weeks after Hurricane Laura caused widespread damage across Louisiana.

PICTURED: Hurricane Sally; Serious Threat of Storm Surge, Flooding Rain Headed For Gulf Coast on Tuesday.

Under the supervision of Sherry Buresh, our ground crews will continue to help Texas and Louisiana homeowners this week. We're in conversation now with the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA regarding potential needs of those in the path of Hurricane Sally, especially along the Mississippi and Alabama coastline.

We will continue to share updates from the ground as our teams assist Hurricane Laura survivors and prepare to assist those in the path of Hurricane Sally.

Please join us in prayer for the volunteers and local residents along the Gulf Coast, as they brace for for more dangerous weather this week.

-Virginia Spencer
Vice President of Development
Inspiritus

Hurricane Laura Response: Day 1 On The Ground

Hurricane Laura Response: Day 1 On The Ground

THE NEED:

Hurricane Laura made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on Thursday, August 27th, 2020. With 150 mph winds and the threat of a storm surge 30+ miles inland, Hurricane Laura is the strongest hurricane to hit the Louisiana coastline since 1856.

Inspiritus is on the ground now serving homeowners impacted by Hurricane Laura in collaboration and partnership with the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod and Upbring (Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response).

Housing for volunteers is being generously provided at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Bridge City, Texas.

We are preparing to stage our Lake Charles operations and service projects from the fellowship hall on the damaged St. Paul Lutheran Church property.

Volunteer response teams will be serving homes in need in the Lake Charles, Louisiana region. Our focus is on the Lake Charles area, but we will also be available to assist homeowners between Orange County, TX, and the Calcasieu Parish, LA.

A mandatory evacuation is still in effect for Calcasieu Parish, and approximately 70,000 people are still without power (according to Entergy).

WHO WE ARE HELPING:

Our Disaster Relief teams are providing free roof tarping, debris removal, and muck and gut services, so that vulnerable homeowners impacted by Hurricane Laura can begin the difficult process of recovering and restoring their homes. Special priority will be given to homeowners who are uninsured, disabled, and/or elderly. Inspiritus’ disaster relief mission is to empower hurricane and storm survivors on their journey from surviving to thriving.

OUR PARTNERS:

We look forward to sharing updates from the ground in the weeks ahead.

Please join us in prayer for the volunteer teams and the local residents who have been impacted by Hurricane Laura.

- Virginia Spencer
Vice President of Development
Inspiritus

Pictured: Our CEO, Rev. John Moeller, on the ground in front of Good Shepherd

Special thanks to Rothrock Foundation for cooking and providing food for our Hurricane Laura volunteers for the next two weeks!

Hurricane Laura Threatens Southeastern States

Satellite Image of Hurricane Laura

August 27th, 2020 2:00pm EST

Hurricane Laura made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on Thursday, August 27th, 2020.

With 150 mph winds and the threat of a storm surge 30+ miles inland, Hurricane Laura is the strongest hurricane to hit the Louisiana coastline since 1856.

"Catastrophic storm surges, extreme winds, and flash flooding" are threatening communities from Louisiana to Tennessee, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm is moving inland across southwestern Louisiana, then heading north across the state on Thursday afternoon. The center of the storm will then move over Arkansas, Tennessee, and the mid-Mississippi Valley on Friday, reaching the mid-Atlantic states by Saturday. (CNN)

Our team of disaster response volunteers are preparing to deploy. Currently, we are working closely with our partners, the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA and Lutheran Disaster Response, to assess the communities most in need of our assistance across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Together, we are also in communication with the Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee VOADs and EMAs to ensure we are collaborating and prioritizing communities with unmet needs.

We also have a disaster relief team on the ground in Tennessee ready to assist with homes that could be impacted by tornadoes and flooding that may arise on Friday, August 28th, 2020 from this storm.

All our teams are following COVID-19 safety guidelines and sanitary protocols while providing relief and support during this challenging time.

We’re extremely grateful for our collaborative partners during this difficult time, especially our trusted partners: the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA and Lutheran Disaster Response.

We’re experiencing two disasters at the same time: COVID-19 and Hurricane Laura. But we’re an organization that, through your generosity and support, brings hope to the people who need it most. Please donate today. Your help during the early days of a disaster are critical!

HOW TO HELP:

DONATE HERE

VOLUNTEER HERE

BE A HOME HERO & FUNDRAISE HERE

MAIL GIFT CARDS/CHECKS TO:

Inspiritus

Attn: Disaster Relief

P.O. Box 7829

Atlanta, GA 30357

If you have any specific questions, please reach out to Sabrina More, our Disaster Relief Volunteer Manager. Be sure to check out our Hurricane Laura page on our website, as we will update it with the latest information.

And be sure to follow us on all our social media channels at: @weareinspiritus

Our hearts and prayers go out to our loved ones and neighbors in the path of this storm.

With Gratitude,

Virginia Spencer

Vice President of Development

Inspiritus

The Classroom Looks Different This Year

Hello Friends,

It's August, which means students across Georgia are heading back to school. For many children, the beginning of school can cause both excitement and anxiety as they face new teachers, new peers, and often new schools. After a summer of stay-at-home orders and mask mandates, the anxiety of life during a pandemic is now extending to the difficult transition to virtual learning. We want to let you know what Inspiritus has been doing to help our kids succeed in this new academic year.

EMPOWERING STUDENTS

We are excited to share that 8 of our refugee girls have been admitted to the Global Village Project school for the upcoming school year. There they will receive an education tailored to the unique needs of refugee girls. The Global Village Project is a specialized, strengths-based academic program focused on the whole student. Our refugee girls who have been enrolled in years past became more confident and self assured.

PREPARING FOR A VIRTUAL CLASSROOM

Case workers and other staff have been spending the weeks leading up to school preparing families and children for the first day of virtual learning. We have assisted parents with registration, necessary testing, and securing devices and internet connection necessary for the virtual learning semester.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR FOSTER KIDS

Inspiritus is also working to support children in our foster care program. We have partnered with the Ticket To Dream Foundation to provide foster children with the school supplies they need to succeed as they return to school. Though times are hard for many families, heroes continue to emerge. For example, one Inspiritus foster family in Atlanta recently took in a family of seven foster children!

Inspiritus is grateful for heroes like these who allow the important work to continue.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

For many of our other families in our refugee and family intervention programs, providing the necessary school supplies can be another area of stress in addition to employment loss, eviction risk, or contracting the COVID-19 virus. This is where we need your help. Please consider supporting one of our kid's going back to school experiences by donating $100 today. This will ensure that backpacks and other necessary supplies are delivered to our kids, so they have what they need to stay on track with their studies.

From all of us at Inspiritus, thank you. We appreciate your support and so do the kids!

-Virginia Spencer
Vice President of Development

Hurricane Season is Here!

Dear Friends,

An above normal 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is expected, according to forecasters at the National Weather Service. The outlook predicts a 60% chance of an above-normal season, which runs through November 30.

We've already seen large storms threaten the Southeast as recently as last week, with Tropical Storm Hanna pounding the COVID-ravaged coast of Texas. This weekend, Florida has many a COVID weary soul watching potential Tropical Storm Isaias.

Thanks to ongoing support and funding from Lutheran Disaster Response, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, and the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA, we are currently staffing up in hard-hit areas like Cookeville, TN, a town that was devastated by the Nashville Tornado on March 3rd. We’re on the ground in Cookeville, actively supporting our neighbors and preparing to start the long term recovery process to help them rebuild. The need is extensive in Tennessee, as residents have suffered from tornado damages to their homes in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With so many Southeastern states currently overwhelmed with hot spots of this deadly virus, additional storms could be devastating. Inspiritus is preparing to help, and we'd like you to join us.

In anticipation of these severe weather hurdles, we hope you will consider becoming a monthly donor of Inspiritus' disaster relief efforts. Please click here and select 'Monthly' under the 'Donation Frequency' header to join us.

YOUR MONTHLY DONATION WILL SUPPORT:

• Equipment for debris removal, chain sawing & tarping

• Construction supplies for home repairs

• Ongoing hunger relief through our food bank for residents in hard-hit areas

• Long term recovery planning with emergency officials

• PPE safety gear for our recovery & response teams

• Volunteer coordination support

Your much needed help will continue to ensure we have adequate PPE supplies for our teams on the ground, and appropriate response equipment and shelter for future storms. August is a busy month for us, as we prepare for this potentially extreme and dangerous weather, and launch our Cookeville Tornado long term recovery work in Tennessee.

Please stay safe during these unsettling times. We will continue to keep you updated on our progress.

Kind Regards,

Virginia Spencer
Vice President of Development

.

"Every disaster requires PPE. For COVID-19 that means masks and gloves. For tornadoes that means helmets, eye and ear protection, and chaps. I was totally impressed with the gear, the training provided before they put a chainsaw in my hands and the oversight they provided during my time on the job site. The ritual at the end of the day, but before dinner, involved thoroughly cleaning the equipment and readying it for the next day."

– CEO, John Moeller, CEO, Easter Tornado Clean-up, Chattanooga, TN.

Holy Cross Lutheran Church's Legacy

Dear Friends,

With joy and thanksgiving, we share with you the news that Inspiritus recently received a significant legacy gift to support our work and our ministry. This gift was made possible through the closure of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Hiram, Georgia.

It was the hope of members of Holy Cross that the proceeds from the sale of its property could bring new life through the work we do at Inspiritus to assist our most vulnerable and medically fragile individuals on a path from surviving to thriving. We are honored to be chosen as a recipient of such a gift.

In his letter to Inspiritus, Bishop Kevin Strickland, Southeastern Synod, ELCA, wrote, “May God’s continued blessing from the life and work of Holy Cross Lutheran Church and their faithfulness be a blessing to those who you serve.” Given the current global pandemic and the increased demands across the three states in which we operate, these funds will support our program needs as we continue to accompany hundreds of individuals and families across our footprint.

We honor today those for whom Holy Cross Lutheran Church was their church. May we always be inspired by their legacy of care for the least among us as we continue their ministry.

With Gratitude,

– Virginia Spencer

Vice President of Development

Inspiritus

Meet Shane

Shane is a young man who grew up in foster care system and has experienced many placements. Fortunately, once he was placed with Inspiritus, we were able to provide the stability he needed. Over the last four years, Shane has thrived due to the care of his loving foster mother who nurtured, cared for, and ushered him into adulthood. What is so special about this story is that Shane is autistic, has cerebral palsy, and functions at an adolescent level. As Shane reached the age of 21, he almost fell through the cracks as many young adults with disabilities do. But thanks to the collaboration of Inspiritus, DFCS and DBHDD, he was successfully transitioned to Inspiritus’ Host Home program where he continues to move into independence and reach his full potential! If you are interested in caring for a young person with special needs, please fill out an inquiry form here or you may reach us at (800) 343-2458 for more information.

All Our Locations At A Glance

As of June 1, 2020, our Corporate office has relocated from its downtown location. Thanks to our Lutheran partners for their generosity and support, the administrative office for Inspiritus is now located in the Mission House at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta. Our new mailing address for donations and information is P.O. Box 7829, Atlanta, GA 30357.

You can still contact Inspiritus at the same local phone numbers you’re accustomed to using, as those have not changed.

Our Atlanta Corporate Office Has Moved

In 2019, our Staff and Board of Directors at Inspiritus began working on a plan to shift towards having a workforce capable of working remotely, with a goal of bringing our staff closer to the clients they serve and reducing office expenses. Thanks to that preparation, our remote workforce plan has fully ramped up over these past three months. We are proud to share that all our staff are successfully operating remotely and at program sites across Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama. Many of our clients' needs have increased during the pandemic and all of our program staff are working very hard to ensure each client is served either in person or virtually. We are so grateful for your support during this time. Supporters like you have helped us remain strong and rise during these challenging times.

A key part of our remote workforce strategy is to ensure that the spaces where we work are the best fit for our clients and the way we work today. As of June 1, 2020, our Atlanta Corporate office has relocated from its downtown location. Thanks to our Lutheran partners for their generosity and support, the administrative office for Inspiritus is now located in the Mission House at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta. Our new mailing address for donations and information is P.O. Box 7829, Atlanta, GA 30357.

Our Refugee and Immigrant Services Team have enthusiastically relocated to a new office space near the Decatur Square, in proximity to where our clients and partners need us the most. The team will continue to provide client services out of our Financial Opportunity Center in Clarkston.

We believe this is faithful stewardship of the generous resources we have been entrusted with for our organization. These moves will help us serve our clients in the Atlanta region more efficiently, and make us stronger as an organization financially, across the board.

You can still contact Inspiritus at the same local phone numbers you're accustomed to using, as those have not changed. We look forward to keeping you informed on all our programs and services this summer, with invitations to Open Houses to come celebrate once it’s safe and appropriate to gather together again.

We hope you and your loved ones are enjoying these warm summer days. Please stay safe!

With Gratitude,

Virginia Spencer
Vice President of Development
Inspiritus

Pass The Georgia Hate Crimes Bill Now!

Hello friends,

We're reprinting an important statement regarding the passage of The Georgia Hate Crimes Bill known as HB 426, signed by our CEO, John Moeller:

In the wake of the recent extrajudicial killing of minority citizens in Georgia and across the nation,The Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center calls for passage of HB 426, The Georgia Hate Crimes Bill.

Statement Against Racism and Violence

ATLANTA (June 2, 2020) -- The Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center condemns racial violence and racism in all forms.

We bear witness to the profound outrage, horror, and trauma following the inhumane murder of George Floyd by members of the Minneapolis Police Department on May 25, 2020, the killing of Breonna Taylor on March 13, 2020, the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick on February 23, 2020, and the violence sustained by our brothers and sisters of color throughout the history of this state and country rooted in systemic racism.

Whereas, we recognize that these acts stem from centuries of racial violence against innocent, unarmed black and brown men, women, and children in this country to uphold systems of white supremacy. Now Therefore, we specifically call for the passage, without amendment, of Georgia House Bill 426, also known as The Hate Crimes Bill.

We recognize that the violence of white supremacy became institutionalized with the enslavement and exploitation of Africans and people of African descent. We believe the chronicity of this violence is located in the institution of slavery which demeaned those made in the image of God to property.

We further recognize that the violence of white supremacy continues to be perpetuated in policies and practices that inflict undue suffering and harm to communities of color. We recognize that the violence of white supremacy stretches back to the founding of this country. We recognize that the violence of white supremacy began with the genocide of Indigenous Nations inhabiting this land.

We believe this is a defining moment when we, as people of faith and good will, cannot stand by in silence. We must stand up and speak out. We pray for all individuals, families, and communities enduring pain, sorrow, rage, and shock due to the impact of racial violence. We believe that faith leaders have a unique responsibility and a sacred mandate to lift up the dignity and value of all human beings.

We recognize that all faiths believe in justice and therefore we call on people of all faiths and good will to join us in advocating systemic changes to dismantle institutionalized racism. This tragedy makes it even more urgent for us to draw closer together as partners across all religions, races, and ethnicities to fight for justice and equality.

Further, we condemn the use of violence against peaceful protesters and the misuse of the symbols of any faith, not for justice or peace, but for propaganda and partisan posturing.

We declare our commitment to achieving racial justice and equity in the State of Georgia.

Signed by:

• Hilton M. Austin, Jr., Chair of the Board of Directors

• Rabbi Peter Berg, Chief Rabbi, The Temple, Director

• Ann Cramer, Board Secretary

• Robert B. Currey, Founder, Currey & Company, Inc., Director

• Chester Fontenot, Jr., PhD, Baptist Professor of English and Director of the African American Studies, Mercer University, Macon, Georgia, Director

• Soumaya Khalifa, Executive Director, Islamic Speakers Bureau, Director

• The Reverend Shelli Latham, Pastor, Druid Hills Presbyterian Church, Director

• The Venerable Carole Maddux, Archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, and Executive Director, Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center

• John Moeller, Executive Director, Inspiritus, Director

• David Marmins, Partner, Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, Director

• Howard Mosby, Senior Vice President, Grady Healthcare System, Atlanta, Director

• Brenda Joyce Smith, Independent Scholar, Director

• The Reverend Kevin Strickland, Bishop, Southeastern Synod, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Director

• The Reverend Taryn Strauss, Senior Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, Director

• The Right Reverend Robert C. Wright, Bishop, The Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, Director

While the events of the last couple of days in Atlanta and across the US are grievous and, in some cases, hard to comprehend, we can’t, and won’t, let our confusion and fear immobilize us. We look forward to deeper engagement with our partners and with all who are ready to say, “This must end. We can do better than this. We are better than this. God grant us strength to be better than this.”

With Gratitude,

Virginia Spencer

Vice President of Development

Inspiritus

"Hope Can't Be Quarantined"

Dear Friends,

We want to highlight the following op-ed piece that ran over the weekend. Our CEO, John Moeller, co-authored this article along with Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, the President and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services. In case you missed it, we are reprinting it here as it is a critical topic that needs immediate attention.

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Opinion: Migrants in detention deserve dignity, sanitary conditions

While anxious shoppers across the country stockpile toilet paper and hand sanitizer in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, immigrants at Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, struggle to make their lone bar of soap last the week. Even more so now, as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has confirmed at least 9 positive cases among detainees in the facility and 23 cases among personnel, according to the private prison contractor, CoreCivic, that operates the detention center.

If they want to wash their hands more frequently or with liquid soap per the CDC’s handwashing recommendations, they must use their commissary accounts – that is, if they have any money at all. Those fortunate enough can buy basic supplies like soap or toothpaste at more than double, or even five times the price they’d pay outside. Only some have the opportunity to earn money by working at their detention facilities, often for a salary of $1 per day. Migrants literally cannot afford the soap to keep themselves safe.

And this soap shortage is only the tip of the iceberg. Nearly every day since the pandemic began, leaders from former ICE acting director John Sandweng to medical experts for the Department of Homeland Security have been calling for the release of the nearly 32,000 migrants in ICE custody to help mitigate further outbreak. In late March, 3,000 medical professionals sent a letter to ICE urging them to reduce the detention population. It responded instead by increasing the number of detainees by 700 within that same week. Despite the agency’s announcement that they would limit enforcement and arrests during the pandemic, raids have continued — including in New York, the crisis’ U.S. epicenter.

Migrant detention centers are, as many have called them, tinderboxes. Close quarters, substandard hygiene supplies, and a failure to adhere to CDC recommendations means that the spread of the virus in these facilities is nearly inevitable. Just this past summer, a mumps outbreak quickly spread through 57 facilities across the U.S. — and already, 267 migrant detainees and 123 ICE personnel have tested positive for coronavirus nationwide.

And yet, efforts to release inmates from prison to stop the spread of COVID-19 have been far more effective than calls to release ICE detainees. Just shy of 32,000 domestic prisoners have been released or diverted from penitentiary facilities nationwide, according to the UCLA School of Law’s “COVID-19 Behind Bars” project. Meanwhile, no more than 700 migrants have been released from ICE detention across the country – with hundreds of men and women above the age of 60 still in custody. Why can we not show the same level-headed compassion to the tens of thousands of migrants with no criminal record?

Seeking a better life should not be a death sentence — and migrants are trying to raise the alarm, despite ICE’s attempts to silence them. Guards at three ICE detention facilities in Louisiana and Texas have used force to suppress protests over coronavirus concerns. We’ve also seen at least five hunger strikes by detainees to secure more hygiene supplies or their release from crowded facilities, where implementing social distancing is impossible.

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is proud to stand with these migrants in the fight for their lives. The coronavirus pandemic is a time of unprecedented uncertainty for all of us, but it is a time, too, for us to acknowledge and embrace our shared humanity.

There are so many ways to help our brothers and sisters in detention: write letters, donate to a visitation program that places funds in migrants’ commissary accounts, urge your elected officials to support humane alternatives to detention, or simply spread the word about the inhumanity faced by those in ICE detention.

Empathy can’t be detained. Compassion can’t be kept in cages. Hope can’t be quarantined.

Krish O’Mara Vignarajah is the President and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, one of the nation’s oldest and largest immigration nonprofits.

John Moeller is the President and CEO of Atlanta-based Inspiritus and a Board Member of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.

________________________________________

Please see link to the Op-ed here, and thank you for your continued support and kindness.

With Gratitude,

Virginia Spencer

Vice President of Development

Inspiritus