EMERGENCY DISASTER RESPONSE

Muskogee Ministerial Alliance (Muskogee, OK)

Who They Serve: Hurricane Katrina evacuees housed at Camp Gruber, a National Guard Training Base outside of Muskogee, OK

What They Do: Emergency assistance, transportation, temporary shelter, family reunification, food/meals, job assistance, matching refugees with a host church, referrals to social service agencies, clothing

Brief Description:

The Muskogee Ministerial Alliance served over 700 Hurricane Katrina evacuees housed at Camp Gruber.  Evacuees were provided with immediate aid, and those interested in relocating to Oklahoma were matched with a sponsor church that assisted with finding and furnishing permanent housing, employment and job training, and social integration into the community.   In addition to working with local churches, The Muskogee Ministerial Alliance Disaster Relief Team collaborated with the Red Cross, OK Emergency Management, HUD and USDA. 

EMERGENCY DISASTER RESPONSE

Evangel Temple Church’s Compassion Center (Wichita Falls, TX)

Who They Serve: Hurricane Katrina evacuees

What They Do: Transportation, temporary shelter, family reunification, food/meals, trauma counseling, medical care, child care, job assistance, referrals to social services agencies, clothing

Brief Description:

In response to Hurricane Katrina, Evangel Temple Church purchased and furnished a 1.1 million dollar building and created the “Compassion Center”, a family housing facility.  The Compassion Center houses forty families and provides meals, transportation, after-school tutoring, and other social services for the residents.  Partnerships with organizations such as Midwestern State University, Texas Workforce Commission, and 90 corporations provide essential supplies, financial assistance, and volunteers.

Tip:  To learn more about the Compassion Center and take a virtual tour click here!

EMERGENCY DISASTER RESPONSE

Victory Christian Fellowship (Lynchburg, VA)

Who They Serve:    Victims of disasters such as fire and flood

What They Do:  Provide temporary housing and assistance, referrals to social service agencies, counseling

Brief Description:  Victory Christian Fellowship has created the Victory House to provide housing and relief to families who experience a personal disaster that leaves them homeless.  When a fire or flood hits a family in the Lynchburg area, a volunteer who works with both Victory Christian and the Lynchburg Virginia Fire and EMS Department responds.  He begins immediately working with the family to assess their needs.  He contacts the Red Cross Disaster Team and whatever other agencies are necessary to meet the family’s immediate needs – usually housing, clothing, and food. 

If the family’s needs exceed the resources of the Red Cross, arrangements are made for the family to move into the Victory House.  While the family is living at the Victory House, volunteers from Victory Christian ensure that the family has all their basic needs met, receive any necessary counseling, and connect with other social service agencies.  Victory Christian is on call 24 hours a day for the family to contact. 

Victory House II is being built currently and will soon be ready to provide relief to more families in need. 

Tip:  Check out their website.