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Disaster Relief Ministry active in 2009
By Elizabeth YoungThe Arizona Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Ministry was active on multiple fronts in January and February.
"The first two months of 2010 have seen the busiest activity for Arizona Disaster Relief since its inception," said Mitch McDonald, state disaster relief director. "Arizona had the privilege to be responders within our state and across the globe."
Thirty-nine disaster relief volunteers served a total of 98 days in a 46-day time span in early 2010.
"Arizona Disaster Relief workers are clearly rising to the occasion to minister to those in times of need," McDonald said.
Eight volunteers served a total of 30 days in American Samoa. (See separate story here.)
The Disaster Relief Ministry sent a kitchen unit and four volunteers to serve at Salome High School following flooding in the town of Wenden. The community of 500 residents was evacuated following flooding during a series of three winter storms the week of Jan. 17.
Bertha and Randy Meeker and Norma and Dave Turner served more than 400 meals between the evening of Jan. 22 and the morning of Jan. 24. Working in partnership with the Red Cross, they prepared meals that were sent to two other shelters in Salome, in addition to serving the evacuees staying at the high school.
A disaster relief shower unit was sent to a shelter in Black Canyon City, where residents of an RV park were displaced by flooding. Disaster relief volunteers Steve Foster and Chuck Schroeder manned the shower unit for 10 days.
Other volunteers served in the Tonto Basin area following the winter storms. Five volunteers worked in a disaster needs center, while five others helped with debris removal for three days. In late February another team was being assembled to continue recovery work in Tonto Basin.
In support of the volunteers in the field, one volunteer spent nine days working on vehicle maintenance, and two others served 30 days in general administration.
In addition, 11 volunteers served during missions events at First Baptist, Sun Lakes, and First Baptist, Chandler.