Make a Differnce Day!

CREW is helping to promote MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY! We not only have several volunteer projects planned for October 28th, but we are also participating in the Gospel Sing to raise money for Hurricane Victims as well as some of our staff our volunteering in Lake Port to help raise money for their after school event.

CREW on You Tube!

Watch our first rebuild on you tube as they work on building the roof and frame!
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=CREWInc

CREW and their Weekend Warriors!

We normally think of Saturday's as lazy laid back days, not for CREW! CREW covered two counties promoting Hurricane information and preparedness at Project Hope Event and hosting volunteers at three homes in two counties!

CREW supported Project Hope and the Corp Of Engineers as they helped use the anniversary of the devastating hurricanes from decades ago to remind people to prepare for those of tomorrow. CREW is not only helping people recover from past storms such as Wilma and Ernesto, but promoting the importance of preparing for future storms. We are actively exploring ways to help people prepare for future storms by exploring hurricane mitigation opportunities as well as teaching people the importance of preparing. Akiva and Trish set up the booth at the site, then Akiva, Amanda and Betty spent the day informing people about what we can do to help!

Meanwhile, Renee' made sure the volunteer CREW from East Lake United Methodist got off to a good start. They were tired from fighting the Tiger traffic the night before! Go Tigers!!!

The CREW started in Moorehaven, splitting and working at two different homes. Replacing drywall in one while repairing a screen door at another. All the time the group was being followed around by the St. Pete Times. The Times interviewed each volunteer, Renee' and Trish at the home and then we all went out to a late lunch to refuel for the next project! The whole gang traveled to Clewiston to help repair a stubborn roof that won't quit leaking! Unfortunately they were unable to finish as they could not get the right supplies. But the volunteers wearily agreed to come back next month and tackle the roof first! The Times hung around and took a tour of the Clewiston damage with Trish, and learned what a resilient town we are, as the volunteers began their long drive home to Palm Harbor, hot and tired, but satisfied with a great days work for the Glory of God!

But, it does not end there. Sunday also saw Akiva diligently working to get our videos installed on our new computer, donated by the Presbyterian Disaster Association while Trish met with member of the Bass Association regarding a donation to CREW and talked further with the St. Pete Times. Thank you so much to those who have so willingly and continually supported us!

East Lake United Methodist!

GARY AND KAREN


East Lake United Methodist Church came and did wonders! We were so impressed their work and their continued support! East Lake has been here 6/16-6/17 and tarped in Clewiston and Harlem. On 7/21 they came and tarped a roof and cut up trees in Montura. On 8/25 they came and tore out and replaced drywall in Moorehaven and installed installation in Hookers Point, just outside Clewiston. They will be back on 10/23 for more work! They are such a great group, they get off work on Friday and drive to Clewiston from Palm Harbor, and then get up Saturday morning and work all day and then drive 4 hours to go home. Here are some pictures of their trip in August! Praise God for East Lake United Methodist!

REV. GENE WATSON JULIUS & LARRY!

CREW attends Glades Hurricane Info Day!

C.R.E.W Attends Glades Hurricane Info Day
MOORE HAVEN, FLORIDA - A Hurricane Information Day and Community Picnic was held at the Moore Haven City Park on September 9, sponsored by the Glades County Emergency Management Department. CREW gave out balloons and candy as Project Hope painted faces making it a fun day for the kids. The kids had fun while the adults learned how to better prepare for hurricanes.
CREW, with the help of Palmdale Fire Department, passed out health kits and flood buckets to Ernesto flood victims, which were donated by UMCOR and delivered by a Methodist Church in West Palm. Also delivered was food donated by Catholic Charities.
During this information day, CREW was able to complete four applications for one resident in Muse, one in Labelle and two in Moore Haven. Executive director Trish Adams, LCSW was able to deliver donated clothes to the First United Methodist Church for Moore Haven's thrift store. CREW helped to organized and run the raffle for Glades Emergency Management to help promote awareness and get residents to register and to challenge their knowledge of knowing when to evacuate.

Grace Ministries to the Rescue!

Grace Church helps survivors of past hurricanes, prepares for new ones
Aug. 29, 2006 News media contact: Tita Parham* 800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0538}
An e-Review FeatureBy Nancy E. Johnson**

Wearing neon-green shirts that say, "Disaster Relief Team ... 'Here I am, send me!' Isaiah 6:8," team members from the disaster ministry team at Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Coral work to retarp a roof damaged during last year's storm season. Photo courtesy of Grace United Methodist Church, Photo #06-429.
It’s been almost a year since Hurricane Wilma whipped through many of Florida’s communities. It’s no longer front-page news, but much of the devastation remains.
“There’s still work to be done. It amazes me that some local churches are still unaware that there’s still a cry for help,” said Patti Nemazie, a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Coral.
Nemazie is one of about 40 church members who helped form a new ministry called The Grace Disaster Relief Ministry. They received early responders training through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) so they’ll be ready when disaster strikes.
In the meantime, the team has been practicing the UMCOR model in the field. They formed three teams and began working in neighboring communities still recovering from previous hurricanes, with each team focusing on a local mission. Within each team, team members were assigned specific responsibilities outlined in UMCOR’s training: logistics, team leader and base camp manager. With the experience they’re getting they say they’re prepared for any hurricanes that may hit this season.
One team worked with Lee County Human Services to help a grandmother who qualified for a grant, but still needed “lots of work to be done to her house to make that family whole again,” Nemazie said. “She is the caregiver to three grandchildren.”
Nemazie said the cost of the supplies was covered by the grant and the church’s disaster ministry was “the hands and feet, using the UMCOR model.”
The second and third teams worked in the Clewiston area on tree and debris removal and in Bonita Springs doing minor roof repairs. After the teams completed their “missions,” Nemazie said they met as a large group to discuss what did and did not work well.
Lon Elliott was on the team that visited Clewiston in July. They were surprised to see so much damage that still remained from Hurricane Wilma.
“They still had trees leaning; you could still see blue tarp on houses. There’s been some cleanup, but it’s been slow,” he said.
His team helped with home repairs and rebuilding at three houses. They re-tarped Joyce Hollingsworth’s home — Hurricane Wilma had shown it no mercy.
“It knocked down my garage. Concrete beams got knocked down during the storm,” Hollingsworth said. “It ripped some of the roof off and uprooted one mango tree and six fruit trees.”
A bond formed between Hollingsworth and the Grace Church team members. Nemazie recalls the homeowner sharing the story of how the home had been in her family for generations — she inherited it from her mother. Her grandmother died in the back bedroom during a house fire.
“She cried out, ‘Lord, I need your help. Water’s coming in, there’s mold.’ Then the phone rang within minutes and it was the logistics team from Grace Church calling to say they were coming to tarp her roof,” Nemazie said.
Hollingsworth insists it was answered prayer. “I said ‘Lord, what will I do. If another storm comes, this roof is going to fall,’ ” she said.
Elliott recalls the gratitude of every homeowner his team helped. “One couple was in their 80s. When the job was done, they wanted to give us a donation, but we said no.”
There are hundreds of people in need in Clewiston, hundreds of stories of rebuilding. Until a new round of hurricanes makes landfall, Grace Church team members will continue to respond to the survivors of past hurricanes.
“We’ve got a list of more places that need help,” said Elliott. “Until we’re called out by UMCOR for a disaster elsewhere, we’ll help here.”
And Hollingsworth appreciates the team’s work on her family home. “I was very pleased. We ministered to each other. It (Hurricane Wilma) did some damage, but in spite of it all, we were blessed,” she said.