What We Know In Chattanooga

Dear Chattanooga-Cleveland area Presbyterians:

Fritz Schilling contacted us this morning (Wednesday, 9/7)) to try to coordinate the disaster relief efforts among Presbyterians in this part of the world. To that end, we would like to share the following information for you to share with your churches.

As a connectional church, it would be a great witness for us to work together to share God's love and mercy in this great time of need.Please know that the need will not go away soon.

We still hope to put together at least one work team to travel down to the coast for rebuilding at some point in the future; let Presbytery know if anyone from your congregation would be willing to participate in this trip.Understand, too, that the information we have seems to be changing by the hour. We will try to keep you posted of important updates as we receive them.

If you have questions, suggestions, comments, etc. please contact Rev. Mark Downs (423-400-9685 (c)) or Rev. Becky Downs (423-505-1491 (c) or 423-894-3773 (o)), or comment on this blog.

Thank you, on behalf of the Presbytery, for all the ministry you do every day.

In Christ,

Mark & Becky Downs

What to give where:
Your Time: Red Cross - they need people work in the shelters and help in the office. Call the Chattanooga Red Cross at 265-3455. Orientations are being held daily, next one is Thursday at 6:00 at their office on 801 McCallie Avenue near UTC. At the orientation you will learn how you can help and the areas of need. Have a friend volunteer with you and work as a team! They have a special need for nurses and mental health workers. If you go through the Red Cross training, please let Revs. Becky or Mark Downs know so that we can put together teams of Presbyterians to work in the shelters.

Food: Chattanooga Area Food Bank - Take all donations of food to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank at 3402 N Hawthorne St, Chattanooga, 37406 -(423) 622-1800.

Clothes: Community Kitchen - Take clothing to the Community Kitchen at 727 E 11th St, Chattanooga, 37403 - (423) 756-4222.

Household Items: Chattanooga Housing Authority - Take household items (ex.Sheets, blankets towels, dishes) to the Chattanooga Housing Authority warehouse on 801 N. Holtzclaw Ave. - (423) 752-4806.

Money: Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (100% goes to assistance of people, no donations go to administration) through your local church.

Hope-In-A-Box Kits and Health Kits: these specific kits are being used on site in Houston to fill the needs of people in shelters. Please see http://www.pcusa.org/pda/tools/shelterhealthkit.htm for more information on the specifics of the kits. If you bring your kits to Northminster, along with whatever donation you can afford for shipping, we will see that the kits get sent off. We will be shipping on Monday, but can do another shipment later if needed.

Red Cross is still in need of more shelters! Northminster has volunteered, and if it ends up being used there will be a huge need for help there. We cannot staff it ourselves; it would be great to have an all-Presbyterian volunteer crew there. Let us know if your church is being used as a shelter.