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Hurricane Helene Response

Hurricane Helene Response

Hurricane Helene left quite a mark in our area.  Many congregations and communities suffered losses of many kinds - and the rebuilding effort in the region will be a long, difficult and expensive process. 

Find the latest information on what Holston Presbytery and all of the response organizations are doing to respond to the needs in the area, and how you can help.

Volunteer Opportunities

General Response

Hurricane Helene Relief Homepage – https://churchatevergreen.com/relief, Lots of info about other organizations here.

Volunteer Registration – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScDAUkumQzILY6MMNcjHJZg5pIV2vaeA-xjhDT-ONzzGGzbLA/viewform?pli=1
 

https://www.tnvoad.org/

https://www.tn.gov/tema/get-involved/volunteer-organizations-active-in-disasters.html

https://www.tnvoad.org/request-assistance/
 

Home Repair/Rebuilding

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Legal Help

Donate

There a number of organizations that will put your donation to good use. Besides the ones below, many of the other organizations listed need donations.

Holston Presbytery Donation Page

If you would like to donate to the Presbytery's flood relief,
please use the QR code or click here. 
         Holston Presbytery Flood Relief â€‹

You can also send a check for Flood Relief to:

Holston Presbytery, PO Box 3647, Kingsport, TN 37664

 (please put "flood relief" in the memo line)

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All of this  money will stay in Holston Presbytery to help with flood relief.

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PCUSA Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA)

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance enables congregations and mission partners of the PCUSA Churches to support and care for communities adversely affected by crises and catastrophic events. Information here.

More info on PDA's Helene response is here.

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Rise Erwin

https://www.riseerwin.org/donate

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Resources for Churches to Help Out​

We expect congregation’s pastors, session members and others will want to organize a response either as a group or individually. Besides the volunteer opportunities and channels through which to donate, we will be posting stories of how Presbyterian and other churches are supporting disaster relief and recovery.


As the response moves from the response to the recovery/restoration stages, local community groups are being organized in each county into Long Term Recovery Groups (LTRGs)*. These will be coordinating recovery efforts for the years it will take to get it done. More information about how to get involved with Long Term Recovery Groups (LTRGs) in your counties will be posted at those groups get organized.

 

Help is definitely needed to work with these LTRGs and direct churches to help with the projects these LTRGs organize.

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Presbyterian Disaster Relief (PDA) also has useful information about they support churches’ disaster response. https://pda.pcusa.org/page/act/

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​* A long term recovery group (LTRG) is a cooperative body that is made up of representatives from faith-based, non-profit, government, business and other organizations working within a community to assist individuals and families as they recover from disaster. 
https://www.nvoad.org/wp-content/uploads/longtermrecoveryguide-final2012.pdf​​

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About the Presbytery's Disaster Response Team

Hurricane Helene created damage for many congregations’ members and communities in our area. The recovery effort will be a long, difficult and expensive process. The Holston Presbytery Disaster Response Team has been organized to help focus and coordinate congregations’ recovery work. We expect to be doing this with our congregations for some time to come.

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The Holston Presbytery Disaster Response Team is working to help Congregations:

  • Provide survivors with any food, temporary housing and mental health services they may need.

  • Help survivors connect with short and long-term, funding for their recovery and rebuilding efforts.

  • Discover individuals’, families’ and congregations’ unmet needs, as they arise, and find resources
    to meet these needs.

  • Connect and coordinate volunteers to help with recovery projects.

  • In the future, help congregations host volunteer response groups from other areas come and
    work on projects.

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100% of the money donated to the Holston Presbytery’s disaster relief will be used in Northeast Tennessee. A member of the Presbytery's Finance and Budget Committee is on the Team and will coordinate with that Committee and Presbytery leadership to ensure faithful stewardship of all donations.

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Members of the Disaster Response Team are:
 

     Harrell Cobb

     Pauline Douglas

     Geoffrey Hoare

     Allen Huff

     Chris Kilday

     Rebecca Nunley

     Rick Raum

     Karen Russell, ex officio

     Jeanne Stokes

     Ray White

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If you have any questions or, are interested in joining the Team and helping out, please contact any team member through the Presbytery office at disaster@holstonpresbytery.onmicrosoft.com.

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