National Prepardeness Month

http//www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/08/20070830-4.html

National Preparedness Month, 2007 A Proclamation by the President of the United States


National Preparedness Month is an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of emergency preparedness and to encourage all Americans to better prepare their homes and communities for emergencies.

Protecting America's homeland and citizens is the shared responsibility of the entire Nation. Individuals can prepare themselves and their families for emergencies by taking simple steps such as organizing an emergency supply kit, making a personal preparedness plan, becoming informed about different threats, and getting involved in preparing their community. These activities create a culture of preparedness and can help save lives.

My Administration continues to improve our Nation's ability to prepare for emergencies. The Department of Homeland Security is working with other Federal, State, and local government organizations, as well as the private sector, to prevent, respond to, and recover from all types of emergencies. Together, Americans can significantly enhance the level of national preparedness to further safeguard our communities and secure our homeland.

This month is also an opportunity to pay tribute to America's first responders who put themselves at risk for the safety of their fellow citizens. These brave police officers, firefighters, and emergency service personnel exemplify the compassion and commitment that help strengthen our country. We will be forever grateful for their service and sacrifice.
During National Preparedness Month, I encourage all Americans to get involved in their community's preparedness efforts. Citizens may visit ready.gov and citizencorps.gov to learn more about emergency preparedness and ways to take action.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2007 as National Preparedness Month. I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the importance of preparing for potential emergencies and to observe this month by participating in appropriate events, activities, and preparedness programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.

GEORGE W. BUSH

July Volunteers!

In July, we had 41 volunteers come and work 933.75 hours. They came from the following churches, traveling to CREW on their own dime and their own time.

Zion Lutheran Church (http://www.zionloveland.com/) and Our Saviors Lutheran Church (http://www.greeleylutheran.org/ ) sent 25 representatives from Greeley
and Loveland Colorado. This group consisted of 7 adults (Mike, Lisa, Greg, Ray, Linda, Vicky, Cody) and 16 youth (Lindsey, Ellie, Kristen F, Amity, Ryan F, Vicky, Ashley, Chelsea, Ben, Marie, Rebecca, Jessica, Chris, Colin, Reed, Ray). This group worked on 6 different projects for the week of July 8, 2007 thru July 14, 2007. They finished some drywall for a yong man with life threatening cancer and his family-John, spread some shell rock for Irma, built a wheel chair ramp for an extremely overweight married man whose wife is also very overweight and thier three children- Layless, demolished a mobile home for a single mom with five children, including twins- Tamisha, and installed skirting for Frank and an elderly non-english speaking Mexican woman living on social security with grown son who currently collecting unemployment-Maria.

The First Parish of Westwood (Methodist) (http://www.firstparishwestwood.org/) sent a group of 14 volunteers from Westwood Massachusetts. This group consisted of 4 adults(Josh, Jeannie, Katie, and Brendan) and 8 youth(Scott, Mason, Melissa, Julia, Lauren, Kevin, Amy, and David) and were joined by Nicholas from our local New Harvest Church. This group worked on 5 projects the week of July 15, 2007 thru July 21, 2007. They completed the skirting for F. Rosario, completed the wheel chair ramp for L. Maldonado, installed skirting for P. Jones, installed drywall and repaired a roof for J. Samples, and helped remove some debris for CREW. This group was joined by Nichloas, a young man from the New Harvest Church (http://www.newharvest.net/) here locally.

Our individual volunteer from Michigan, Art also worked during this time. Art has been here since the first week of December 2006. He worked on 3 projects. He installed 2 vanities for Leapold, worked on a roof for Melba, and made some roof repairs for Bee.

Close To Home!

A volunteer group from Sunrise,Fl drove down to Clewiston to help the communities of Hendry and Glades county. There were 17 volunteers, who had a lot of heart. While they were here with us they helped demolish a mobile home in Moore Haven,they replaced damaged drywall at Mr. Elijah's home, they installed exterior trim as well as did some painting at Mr. Leopold's home, and they tarped Ms. valerie's roof. You can say this group from Florida was as busy as bees! Even though they were very busy they made time to attend one of the local Pentecostal churches for their Sunday service, which they greatly enjoyed.We thank this group for coming and for all their hard work. May God bless you in everything you do.

All The Way From Colorado!!

A volunteer group from Vail, Colorado came down to America's Sweetest town to a lend helping hand in the recovery of families who had damages due to Hurricane Wilma. There were a total of 26 volunteers who blessed us with their presence. While the group was here they were able to cut down and remove some enourmous trees that were severly damaged and posed a major risk to our community. Ms. Mia, the homeowner, is extreamly grateful for the group being able to assist her with the debris. Not only was this group removing enourmous trees, but they were also demolitioning a mobile home in Moore Haven for and elderly woman named Willie. The group had such a wonderful experience that the youth Pastor said when he returned home his story sparked an intetrest in his fellow church members to start planning more mission trips, so they can continue to help others. Thanks guys for your hard work and making a difference in our community. May God Bless you.

Reflections from the Front Line of Hurricane Wilma Recovery

Reflections From the Front Line of Hurricane Wilma Recovery
John Hicks, Pastor, First United Methodist Church of Clewiston

Shooting across south Florida and strengthening in the gulf, Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast just outside New Orleans, wiping out entire neighborhoods, flooding houses up to their roofs, swamping
Mississippi's beachfront and blowing out windows in hospitals, hotels and high-rises. The community of Clewiston came together to help out our neighbors to the north, with the churches holding a benefit concert to help the hurricane victims. Little did we realize that in less than a month, we would be at ground zero when a lady named Wilma worked her way across our community. Because of the intensity of the damage on the Gulf Coast, our crisis situation didn’t receive much headline news. Wilma wasn’t supposed to be as wicked as she was. Like many others, the ferocity of Wilma surprised me. Having grown up in Florida, hurricanes are not new to me. I wasn’t really worried. We were supposed to be on the “less severe” side. I prepared. I stored up ice and water in case they were needed. I made
sure that my generator was working. I purchased chocolate for my wife. I boarded up the windows. I was ready – or so I thought. I knew we were in trouble when the winds took out the columns on the front of the parsonage
and blew out a shuttered window.

We were blessed with a community coming together after the storm. Within hours after the storm passed, church members had come by and we had secured 4 by 4 ‘ s for support where the columns had been.
We went out to check on the elderly and others in our community who might need help. We had downed trees and flooding all around us. There was no telling how long the power would be out. Although our parsonage and office took a major hit, the rest of our facilities made it through with
minimal damage. The other larger churches in our community didn’t make out as well. We became a center for relief.

As a precaution before the storm, I had set aside a store of ice and food and had secured several generators to take to houses to recharge freezers in case power went out. Several people joked with me about the amount of supplies and materials I was hoarding before the storm. They were joking no more. With the church on bottled gas and having supplies, we set ourselves up as a distribution and feeding center, helping people and cooking meals from frozen-but-thawing food donated from home freezers. Supplies, however, fell short of the needs. But God is good and God’s people responded to His call for help. The strength of the United Methodist
connectional system really showed itself. The call for help had hardly gone out before churches started responding. Our Life Enrichment Center was set up as a distribution center as well as a supply source for satellite distribution centers for other churches around the community. Every day we emptied the supplies in the center. Every day additional supplies arrived so we could continue to fulfill needs.

But more than the supplies, love and support and prayers came our way. Special people did special things. One group brought us supplies, a filled hundred gallon hand pump gas tank, a chest freezer full of ice,
and generators to power the freezer and our church refrigerators. Another couple brought supplies but also asked what special things they could bring my wife and me. A work team showed up to take care of the
parsonage needs so I wouldn’t have to worry about it. A number of people came and cut up many of the large downed trees on the church property.
A young girl from Indiana, PA. by the name of Eliza heard that our youth’s pumpkin patch had been destroyed, and put forth an effort at her home church to raise money to help our youth go on their mission trip
that the pumpkin patch would have helped support. When a hotel renovated, a couple from the coast collected and delivered numerous truck loads of beds and then recliners to replace those lost by people in the storm. These are just some of the hundreds who have touched our lives and the lives of those in our community. It’s hard to believe that 20 months have come and gone since Hurricane Wilma struck. I think back
to when the mayor of Clewiston asked me as the head of the ministerial association to look into unmet needs in our community, and how that led to the formation of our long term recovery workforce, C.R.E.W. (Community Rebuilding Ecumenical Workforce.) I learned that each church denomination has its strength and is a puzzle piece that fits together with other churches to provide the disaster relief ministry picture. Our United Methodist Church has been the backbone in helping to train and support case management to help the victims of the hurricane, with strong support from the Presbyterian Church. Those are the dynamics. The real blessings came from the ministry that these dynamics set the stage for. Volumes could be written of the testimonies from the families helped and the hundreds who have come to help out. Each work team has their own special stories to share. More stories and testimonies are occurring each week as another household is helped back on its feet. Lives have been changed. God has been glorified. The 24-7-365 ministry has taken its toll on the ministers in our area. Five of the spiritual shepherds from
our churches have left the area. A number of the leaders who were instrumental in helping us get started in recovery have stepped down from their positions to pursue other work. I thank God for a church family that has insisted that their spiritual leader take time away to recreate and re-create. I thank God for Pastor Thom Street of First United Methodist Church of Moore Haven for being a being in ministry together in this situation. I thank God for a good support group of churches and pastors who have kept us in their hearts and prayers and have put legs on their prayers. I praise God that He has raised up new leaders to pick up the baton to finish this race in full stride.

When we first started our recovery and the enormous task that seemed to be in front of us, I compared our task to eating an elephant. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Each little bit that each of us
gives makes a large difference in the life of those we touch. Each bite we take reduces the elephant sized situation. We have been chewing on this elephant for some time now, and have accomplished much, but there is
still a portion of the elephant left. Mostly now our needs are in finishing roof repairs. In the name of God and for the blessing of God’s people and ourselves, we invite you to join us by taking a bite out of what’s left and helping to make a difference. Our little becomes much when placed in our
Master’s hands, and each step we take brings us closer to God’s heart for His people. Thank God we are not alone. This is where we find strength for the journey. Our Lord has given us an incredible promise: "Where two
or three come together in my name, there am I with them." When God is in our midst, we can make it through even the most devastating storm.

Governor’s Humanitarian Award given to Catholic Charities!

Governor’s Humanitarian Award given toCatholic Charities for hurricane relief efforts

VENICE--Catholic Charities was the recipient of the prestigious 2007 Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference Humanitarian Award for their disaster response efforts throughout the storm seasons of 2004 and 2005 and their continued efforts in assisting disaster victims in 2006. The honor was presented at an award ceremony on May 16 during the conference at the Broward County Convention Center.

Volunteer Florida and the Volunteer Florida Foundation nominated Catholic Charities for the honor at the conference themed “Building on Past Successes…Preparing for Future Challenges.” The Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference focused on the unprecedented hurricane seasons of the past few years and the challenges they brought to the state’s ability to respond. The theme reflected on the wealth of experience that Florida has gained and the advancements that must be made.

“Catholic Charities was particularly cited for its emphasis on serving the most vulnerable among Florida’s citizens,” said Deacon Marcus Hepburn, emergency management specialist for the Florida Catholic Conference. Hepburn attended the award ceremony. “All seven Catholic Charities diocesan agencies in Florida were recognized for their work,” he said. Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice was a leader in relief efforts and should be especially proud, Hepburn added.

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice typically serves a little over 40,000 clients annually but in 2004 almost 90,000 people received help from the organization through existing programs and seven hurricane recovery centers. Hurricane related services assisted over 46,000 individuals that year alone. In 2005, over 14,000 victims were helped with disaster relief.

“After Hurricane Wilma, we worked with the Collier County emergency management to develop a hurricane preparedness and response plan for the farm worker communities in that region, especially in Immokalee,” Routsis-Arroyo said. Catholic Charities also is participating in a project sponsored by the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund called Neighbors to the Rescue. This program puts neighbors in touch with neighbors to provide relief to individuals and families whose lives were disrupted by Hurricane Wilma. The Neighbors to the Rescue program connects volunteers, taps into community resources and creates virtual warehouses of available materials, goods, services, transportation and housing for those recovering from the storm.

The Lutherans continue to help CREW!

Members of St. Luke's Lutheran Church traveled from outside Seattle Washington on their own dime and their own time and spent a week sleeping on hard floors at Community Presbyterian Church. They repaired ceilings, installed sub flooring and laid new flooring, reset toilets, replaced a roof, installed dropped ceilings, installed windows, hot water heaters and doors, and painted. They were just part of a continuing effort of CREW's to help local residents recover from Hurricane Wilma and the new season of storms begin. God Bless them and our many other Lutheran (and other) volunteers. One of the elderly Cuban women that lives alone in a very remote area, was so gracious for the help they sent that she cooked for them and even asked if she could adopt one of the young men for companionship and live in help!

Our local Faith Lutheran Church, also had a fundraiser for CREW, they raised $177.00 cash and the following goods for donation, 12 boxes of pens, 6 boxes of paperclips, 2 staplers, 5 boxes of number 10 envelopes, 9 reams of copy paper, 5 boxes of pencils, 2 packs of notebook paper, 1 box of file folders, 5 number 6 3/4 envelopes, 10 boxes of tape and 2 packs of post its. This was very welcome, as finding funding for office supplies is almost impossible! God Bless Faith Lutheran!

Lutheran Disaster Response has consistently assisted us by sending volunteers from all over the country, which some of these Churches have also donated funds. If you look at past blog posts you will see what many of these churches have done for us.

Catholic Charites helps CREW rebuild homes

Catholic Charities helps rebuild homes, hope after hurricanes

KRISTIE NGUYEN, of the Florida Catholic staff

CLEWISTON — All that remained of Joaquin and Rachel Garcia’s home after Hurricane Wilma hit in October 2005 were the brick arches Joaquin Garcia had built around the porch.
For a year and a half, the Garcias lived in a Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer “that got smaller by the day,” Joaquin Garcia said. “As the months went on, it got smaller and smaller. Even the bed (shrank).”
The couple’s certificate of occupancy — granted just weeks ago — sits in a frame on the floor of their newly built home.
The Garcias were one of 122 families Catholic Charities helped after the storm through its Neighbors to the Rescue program. Sponsored by the Florida Disaster Relief Fund and the Volunteer Florida Foundation, the program puts neighbors in touch with neighbors to provide hurricane relief. It “connects volunteers, taps into community resources and creates virtual warehouses of available materials, goods, services, transportation and housing,” according to Catholic Charities. It’s an example of the work for which Florida’s seven Catholic Charities agencies received this year’s Humanitarian Award from the Governor’s Hurricane Conference.
Neighbors to the Rescue program coordinator Guadalupe Depaz said Catholic Charities relief efforts in Hendry County started off small and included providing assistance with a food pantry and items such as diapers, as well as financial assistance with utilities and rent.
Catholic Charities quickly began networking with other agencies through the Community Rebuilding Ecumenical Workforce program which is made up of a wide variety of faith-based recovery groups in Hendry County, allowing the members to aid their neighbors without the duplication of services.CREW volunteers were among those who helped rebuild the Garcias’ home. A group of workers from Indiana constructed the shell of the house in five days, Joaquin Garcia said.
“We had people all the way from the states of Washington, Maine, New York, Minnesota, Indiana and Maryland” who volunteered, he said. “They did a lot of good.”
In the 39 years Joaquin and Rachel Garcia have lived in Florida, they had never been hit by a hurricane.
“So finally, we had our part of it and we were right in the middle of it,” Joaquin Garcia said.
The Garcias sought refuge with their son, who lives on Florida’s east coast, during the storm.
FLORIDA CATHOLIC PHOTO BY HEATHER FELTON
After Hurricane Wilma destroyed Rachel and Joaquin Garcia’s home in October 2005, these brick arches and porch Joaquin Garcia built were the only things left standing. The couple’s new home was added to the rear of the porch.
“Then they called me and said my house is gone,” Joaquin Garcia said. “They said even the palm trees were down. I said, ‘No way.’”
He and his wife are still settling into their new home, shifting around furniture and retrieving household items from storage.Almost everything inside the house is a symbol of others’ generosity. A couple who volunteered in the hurricane aftermath installed the slate-colored flooring and the shelves in the Garcias’ walk-in closet. CREW gave the couple a glass-top dining table set, and a drawer in the living room came from a Naples hotel that donated furniture from its rooms.
“It’s been a long year and a half,” Joaquin Garcia said. “But we got here, thanks to God.”
Since its foundation, Depaz said, Hendry County’s Neighbors to the Rescue program has received donations of more than 200 volunteer hours; eight complete sets of furnishings from Port of the Islands Resort & Marina; linens from a Bed, Bath & Beyond in Palm Beach County; food from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Harry Chapin Food Bank and area schools; $40,000 from Catholic Charities of Jacksonville; and items from the United Way of Lee County and Martha’s Helping Hands, as well as hundreds of donations from area residents.
As one of the agencies listed in the nomination of the Florida Catholic Conference for the Humanitarian Award, the people of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice Inc., feel honored to receive the recognition, said Peter Routsis-Arroyo, CEO.
Even now, more than a year and a half after Hurricane Wilma — the last hurricane of the 2004 and 2005 seasons to hit the Venice Diocese — Routsis-Arroyo said his staff is still involved in hurricane recovery efforts. More than 100 families are still living in trailers in the Clewiston area alone, he said.
“We continue to provide hurricane recovery to these three counties (Lee, Collier and Hendry) with funding from the Volunteer Florida Foundation,” he said.
The response efforts in the diocese began in August 2004 after Hurricane Charley slammed into the Port Charlotte Harbor, driving over the neighboring cities of Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte. The wrath didn’t stop there. The storm rampaged through the rest of Charlotte County, as well as Lee, DeSoto, Hardee and Hendry counties. Five of the diocese’s 10 counties felt the effects.
“That’s when we mobilized,” Routsis-Arroyo said, with the immediate activation of disaster recovery sites at parishes throughout the affected areas.
“This also helped to unify the entire Catholic family, from the bishop in the Catholic Center to St. Vincent de Paul, the Knights of Columbus and parishioners. We all came together to provide help and support.”
The 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons also resulted in the creation of a statewide disaster coordinator position for the Florida Catholic Conference, held by Deacon Marcus Hepburn. It also produced a mutual aid agreement, under which the seven Catholic Charities and seven bishops in the state of Florida would come to one another’s aid in a natural disaster, Routsis-Arroyo said.
“We tested that with Hurricane Denis in early 2005 when Denis hit Pensacola,” he said. “Catholic Charities of Venice went up to Tallahassee-Pensacola and helped them with disaster recovery.”
After Hurricane Katrina hit, Catholic Charities USA asked Catholic Charities agencies throughout Florida to help the affected states. The seven Florida bishops decided to adopt Biloxi, Miss., where Catholic Charities provided hurricane relief for more than one month, Routsis-Arroyo said. Catholic Charities realized the need for a disaster plan specifically for farm workers after Hurricane Wilma hit the diocese, he added.
“We worked closely with Deacon Marcus and emergency management in Collier County to develop a plan specifically for Immokalee,” Routsis-Arroyo said.
This year, more than $100,000 worth of emergency food is being kept in a Catholic Charities storage area in Lakeland in case of a hurricane. The seven dioceses also share three mobile communication trailers, which “can power up a parish hall for a disaster recovery spot,” Routsis-Arroyos said.
The Diocese of Venice also set up a disaster amateur radio network, which has five base stations in Venice, Arcadia, Port Charlotte, Naples and Fort Myers.
“That was the beauty of this disaster,” Routsis-Arroyos said. “It forced us to come together.”

Florida homes get hurricane help

Florida homes get hurricane help
My Safe Florida Home program helps low-income residents prepare homes for hurricane season.
BY P.J. HELLER PLANTATION, Fla. June 2, 2007

My Safe Florida Home
Ross Dobben of New Creation Builders in Miramar, Fla., fits hurricane-rated shutters to windows on a home in Plantation as part of My Safe Florida Home program. Credit: P.J. Heller

Low-income residents in 12 Florida counties are getting a little extra help this hurricane season to protect their homes from storm damage.
Under the state-funded My Safe Florida Home program, a total of 4,000 homes will be getting hurricane-rated storm shutters, stronger exterior doors, sturdier garage doors and improvements to roofs, all free of charge.
"Everybody who lives in the state of Florida should know the importance of having shutters on their windows and just how much more secure you can be," said 22-year-old Vanessa Hernandez, who was watching as her mother's home in Broward County was being outfitted with the window coverings. "I feel more secure for them, too."

Residents in the counties of Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, Escambia, Osceola, Glades, Hendry, Pinellas, Polk, Santa Rosa and St. Lucie are participating in the program, which is being coordinated by non-profit agencies in each county.

The mitigation effort was an attempt by the Florida Legislature to alleviate high homeowner insurance costs while allowing residents to strengthen their homes to better withstand hurricane damage, explained Suzanne Yack, a staff member with Volunteer Florida Foundation which oversees the program statewide.

Yack said that strengthening the homes with such things hurricane-rated window shutters and stronger exterior and garage doors would make them less vulnerable to wind damage during a hurricane.

"If we do all that we can prevent the wind from coming in," said Yack, who also serves as director of Neighbors to the Rescue and the Florida Faith-Based and Community-Based Advisory Council. "Once the wind comes in the roof tends to come off."

She said the program would also help maintain the limited amount of affordable housing available in many areas. The program does not include mobile or manufactured homes, apartments, condominiums or businesses.
"It's really critical that we save as much of our affordable housing inventory as we possibly can," Yack said. "We lost so much with Hurricane Wilma all across southern Florida. The housing has been absolutely destroyed and nobody is building affordable housing. So what we have left we've got to protect."

Dale Hirsch, executive director of Volunteer Broward, one of two non-profit agencies running the program in Broward County, said the program's $20 million total price tag for the 12 counties is a small amount to pay compared to the monetary damages a hurricane might cause.

"The building process is so expensive, the cost of fixing something is so expensive, it's cheaper to mitigate it," Hirsch said. A few weeks before the start of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season, only about 100 homes had been strengthened with another 400 or so undergoing fortifications, according to the My Safe Florida Home Web site. Yack admitted that many of the homes enrolled so far in the program would not be ready for much of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially began Friday. It ends Nov. 30.

"We have several hundred [homes] done but in terms of hitting the 4,000 number, there's just no way we can," she said. "We just really hope and pray that we can get enough up before anything hits."

With 12 counties to deal with and no idea where, when, or if, a hurricane will strike, Yack said it made little sense to concentrate efforts on a specific area.

"You can really pour all your coals into certain areas and then the storm hits somewhere else," she said. "You don't know where it's going to hit."
The majority of homes being strengthened are in the south Florida counties of Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin, Yack said.
The program began earlier this year. The non-profit agencies responsible for the programs publicized the project, then took applications from residents. In Broward County, 150 homeowners are scheduled to have work done this year; other Broward residents were on a waiting list.
"We had lines out the door," said Sandy Lloyd, disaster specialist with Volunteer Broward. "There's way more than 150 we could really help. Way more."

The Liberia Economic and Social Development, also working in Broward County, was also at capacity, as was Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami.

Once a homeowner has been selected, the Volunteer Florida Foundation sends a certified inspector to the home to conduct a free inspection. The agencies in each county then work with the homeowner to schedule the work, arrange for necessary building permits and hire contractors. Two contractors have been hired in Broward County.

The local groups are asked to find matching funds as well as consider the use of volunteers to assist the contractors in order to leverage the project, Yack said. She said volunteers from faith-based groups, such as Mennonite Disaster Service which have construction experience, were especially welcome, as were people who can help find discounts on shutters, doors and roof bracing materials. "Right now, we have about 20 volunteers waiting for us to tell them what homes to go to," Lloyd said.
"It's not just about getting the funds," Hirsch added. "It's about layering the project with volunteers. Some actually have some construction background, although probably not a lot. But the ones that don't can still do a great deal of work that doesn't require hammering and nails."
Each project is limited to a maximum of $2,500, eliminating the need for competitive bidding, Yack said. Homeowners can pay extra to upgrade the industrial-style hurricane shutters or have additional work done that may not be covered under the program, she said.

Yack said that the non-profit agencies were quickly learning about construction. "They didn't come up through the trades," she said. "They didn't start as experts in shutters. They will end this project as experts in shutters, I promise you that. All of these people who are working on these projects are going to be incredibly valuable."

The low-income home strengthening project is just one part of the My Safe Florida Home program. Another much larger part, with a $250 million budget, involves matching grants of up to $5,000 to homeowners for upgrades. At the start of 2007, the My Safe Florida Home program had received more than 65,000 applications for wind inspections, officials said.
Yack said she expected the low-income program to continue for another year or two, with funding expected to double and the project expanded into other vulnerable counties.

"More money is going to be transferred into the low-income portion of the program because the need is so great," she said, adding, "And because we're doing a good job." Exactly how much of a difference the project will make is an unknown. One way of determining that might be to measure the damage after a storm to homes that were strengthened versus ones that were not, Yack said. "There's no guarantee," she said. "You never know which way the winds are going to come from. It's as strong as it gets for the amount of money."

Related Links:
• My Safe Florida Home program
• Volunteer Broward
• Volunteer Florida Foundation
Find this article at:
http://www.disasternews.net/news/article.php?articleid=3200

Florida Conference of the United Methodisits team with CREW

The Florida Conference of the United Methodists teamed with CREW for Wilma recovery (2005) as preparations for new season (2007) begin. The executive director of CREW, Trish Adams, LCSW is not only a member of the First United Methodist Church in Clewiston Florida, but is also a member of the missions committee and is Social Action Chair of the Church's chapter of the United Methodist Women. Pastor John Hicks of this same church, was instrumental in helping to get CREW started, along with members of the Clewiston Ministerial Church. UMCOR currently funds four case managers and one Construction Coordiator. The Church loaned CREW office space until they out grew it to help them get started in assisting Hurricane Wilma victims. Pastor Thom Street of the First United Methodist Church in Moorehaven has also been instrumental in helping CREW and along with Pastor John has served on the Board of Directors since its inception. CREW has office space which they use once a week at the Moorehaven Church. Pastor Thom and Trish Adams have worked closely with Emergency Mangers in Glades county and will assist with Radio communications, managing donations and volunteers and planning for sheltering if necessary, should another disaster strike.

Trish Adams, also is the long term recovery coordinator for United Way of Lee Hendry and Glades counties. Most recently she was appointed as a member at large for the Florida VOAD. She was also recognized by Volunteer Florida Foundation for excellence at the Governor's Hurricane Conference in Ft. Lauderdale earlier this month. According to an article on FLUMC website, "In April she traveled to New Mexico to receive a National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) award on behalf of CREW for excellence in long-term recovery partnerships. 'The reason we got the award was because we partner with so many people and because we come from such a small town that has few resources,' Adams said. ' … We’ve pulled in national, local and state organizations — faith-based and otherwise — different people have pitched in and helped us.'

Both the Florida Conference and CREW continue to need volunteers for storm recovery. “We’re hoping that within the next 12 months we can finalize all of the Wilma victims,” Adams said. “The main reason it’s taking so long in our community is a lack of resources and a lack of funding.” Other factors affecting the length of the recovery time include dealing with undocumented workers who are afraid to ask for assistance and language barriers, Adams said. ...Gricell Hernandez noted, the entire process of applying for assistance and verifying actual needs takes time.'"

CREW has a long history of working with numerous Methodist Churches, as described here. The First United Methodist Churches of Moorehaven and Clewiston donated space for our volunteer to sleep when they visit gave them use of kitchen facilities, provided goods from their thrift store and food pantry to clients and volunteers as needed, and along with local restaurants and some local church members, have all donated or home cooked meals and/or given discounted prices to volunteer CREWs. Grace United Methodist Church donated Cash, as well as sending out repeated groups, almost monthly to help Hendry and County residents. Grace has also participated in CREW fundraisers and worked side by side with CREW in public awareness campaigns at local fairs throughout both counties. East Lake United Methodist has also come many times, sleeping overnight on the floors of First United Methodist before getting to work, repairing roofs and hanging drywall.

Volunteers came from Methodist Churches from Boca, Plantation, Cape Coral, and Palm Harbor in Florida, Tanjier and Manassas, VA as well as Maryland. We received actual cash as well as in-kind donations from various United Methodist Churches and over 40,000 volunteer hours. Volunteers from Grace United Methodist after repairing roofs one day, stopped by to help our executive director share the need at a Gospel Sing Fundraiser last year for CREW. A Methodist Church from Palm Harbour donated flood buckets to CREW for clients in Lake Port who were flooded out by Tropical Storm Ernesto. First Untied Methodist Church of Lakeland also sent volunteers on several locations. As you can see, CREW has had a multitude of Methodists helping them, as well as numerous groups and individuals from other faiths.

http://www.flumc.info/cgi-script/csArticles/articles/000036/003642.htm
Disaster ministry leaders say ‘time to prepare is now’:

God is Good!

Be not afraid of tomorrow - God is already there!

Hendry County fire threatens Felda homes | WINK-TV - Fort Myers, FL | Local & Florida

Hendry and Glades Counties are burning, disaster again strikes near Buckhead Ridge in Glades Counties and Felda in Hendry counties in areas still trying to recover from Hurricane Wilma! See the links below. Call CREW if you would like to help at 863-983-2390 or come visit them at their new office at Harlem Academy. You can also visit us on Tuesdays in Moorehaven at the Methodist Church.

Hendry County fire threatens Felda homes WINK-TV - Fort Myers, FL Local & Florida

Florida wildfire update http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=55821

2,500 acre brush fire burning near state forest http://www.abc-7.com/Articles/readnews.asp?articleid=12722&z=2&p=

Volunteer groups continue to help Wilma victims as new Storm Season begins!

United Church of Christ's First Congregational Church Senior Youth fellowship from Wolfeboro, New Hampshire came and repaired a roof in Harlem. This group of 11 youth and 3 adults worked so hard over their Spring Break Mission Trip, they were able to take Wednesday off and go to Lover’s Cay for the day.

This group of Lutherans traveled far giving up valuable vacation time and hard earned money on airfare and traveling expenses and just to come and work hard on rural South Florida residents who could not do it themselves! Praise God for these and all our volunteers! You can see more of these guys on our YouTube site as well! http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=CREWInc

Points of Light Foundation helps Hurricane Vicitms!

Visit this website to see what artists and friends are doing for Hurricane Relief with help from their partners at the Points of Light and Volunteer Center Network and the Volunteer Florida Foundation! Check out the CD/DVD benefiting disaster relief and family strengthening efforts across America!
Welcome to We Are Family 2007

CREW recognized at Governor's Conference

Florida Disaster Recovery Fund Recognizes Nonprofit Leadership
– Awards Ceremony Held at Governor’s Hurricane Conference –

Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. – Volunteer Florida Foundation, managers of the Florida Disaster Recovery Fund, recognized exemplary nonprofit partners in recovery at the Governor’s Hurricane Conference here on May 16. The nonprofits were recognized at a private reception hosted by Bank of America, with free cruises given to the leaders by Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises.

“The heart of Florida lies in the dedicated leadership of our nonprofit partners,” said Liza McFadden, President of VFF. “The dedication of these organizations helped ensure our success in recovery from the devastating 2004 and 2005 seasons, including leading our long-term recovery in their prospective areas and securing housing for Floridians following FEMA’s closeout of temporary housing. Disaster recovery is a tedious process that takes great resolve. We applaud these nonprofit leaders and thank them for their tireless efforts in helping our neighbors in need.”

The following nonprofits were instrumental in long-term recovery, with grants and assistance from the Florida Disaster Recovery Fund. Honored were:
Trish Adams, Community Rebuilding Ecumenical Workforce (CREW)
Miles Anderson, Rebuild Northwest Florida
Stirling Boomhower, United Way of Santa Rosa County
Donna Carman, Indiantown Nonprofit Housing
Robert Hebert, Charlotte County
Mandy Hines, Desoto County
Andrea Johnson, Indian River Cares
Steve Mainster, Centro Campesino
Stefanie Myers, St. Lucie INTACT
Greg Strader, Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE)
Sheri Taylor, Palm Beach County Disaster Recovery Coalition
Craig Vanderlaan, Adopt-A-Hurricane Family
Audra Vaz, Volunteer Broward
Jim Vensel, Rebuilding Okeechobee After Disaster
Lisa Watson, Paradise Interfaith Network

About the Fund
The Florida Disaster Recovery Fund (formerly the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund) was founded in 2004 to provide assistance to hurricane survivors for losses not covered by immediate recovery groups, insurance or government funding. The Fund is managed by nonprofit Volunteer Florida Foundation, under the direction of Governor Charlie Crist. The Fund works with nonprofit organizations in affected communities. In the 2004 and 2005 seasons, the Fund raised nearly $24 million in private donations, granted to more than 300 nonprofits working in recovery. Volunteers provided 1,116,610 hours of service, which translates into an in-kind value of more than $20 million.

As Florida approaches the 2007 hurricane season, please refer often to http://www.fladisasterfund.org/ for news and information on disaster preparedness and recovery, and to discover how you can get involved! For more information on CREW visit, http://home.earthlink.net/~hurricanerecovery/.

Andrea/ Fires threaten as Wilma Recovery Continues!

As the volunteers continue to work on recovery efforts from Hurricane Wilma, these volunteers traveled from Washington State to come to rural South Florida and help as fires and subtropical storm Andrea threatens.

The Web site, titled "Florida Wild Fires and Climate Extremes," explains how Florida's unusual weather led to the fires.The unusually wet mild winter in Florida promoted abundant growth in the underbrush. This weather was immediately followed by a severe drought during April, May and June, which rapidly dried out the dense underbrush. This combination – wet and mild in the winter, dry and hot in the summer -- provided abundant fuel to the wildfires throughout Florida.Details on recent abnormal weather, including temperature and precipitation as well as drought indices, are available on the Web site. Links to related Web sites, such as NOAA satellite imagery of the fires and the fire forecast, are provided. The Web site can be reached at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ol/climate/research/1998/fla/florida.html


Subtropical Storm Andrea Forms off Florida/Georgia Coast…
Aircraft and satellite reconnaissance data from this morning indicate that the area of low pressure hovering off the Florida/Georgia coast has acquired subtropical characteristics, meaning that the system exhibits characteristics common to both tropical and non-tropical systems. At 11 AM EDT, the center of Subtropical Storm Andrea was located about 140 miles northeast of Daytona Beach, meandering west near 3 mph. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph. The official forecast calls for gradual weakening during the next 24 hours, with the center of Andrea remaining offshore. The strongest winds are well away from the center and should remain offshore, but there is the potential for tropical storm force winds to affect the immediate coastal areas of northeastern Florida; therefore a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect from Flagler Beach, FL northward to Altamaha Sound, GA. Impacts from Andrea will occur mainly over the marine areas, but gusty winds along with dangerous surf and some beach erosion will be possible along the northeastern Florida coast. Winds are forecast to decrease across the state by week’s end. Rainfall amounts will not be impressive since most of the rainfall will remain offshore, so the potential for a "drought-busting" rain event will be slim. As Andrea weakens and drifts closer to the state, however, moisture levels across Northeast and East-Central Florida will increase, bringing a slightly increased chance for isolated to scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms this weekend.

CREW is hiring!

Contact us now about open positions! We need case managers, office managers, persons with construction experience and knowledge of mitigation, and we can always use volunteers, check out the picture below to see how much fun working with us can be!
South Florida LTRO Job Openings - FLVOADCommunicationsCentral Google Groups

Good News Network

Tired of hearing bad news, you can always look on our blog site and read about wonderful people doing wonderful things, or visit this site, just click on the link. It is a Network that CREW was proud to join!

Good News Network - Latest News

Fires ravage Pioneer Plantation

Fires are breaking out, more disaster hits Hendry County as Hurricane Season begins, and the local community is still recovering from Hurricane Wilma in 2005! See the link below to read more about the fires in Pioneer Plantation in Hendry County.
The News-Press: Local & State

April Showers (& volunteers) bring May flowers and more Volunteers!

April Volunteers included GRACE United Methodist Church who returned again, as they have done every month for quite some time. They worked on replacing Hurricane Wilma damaged walls and ceilings in a home.

First Congregational Church Youth Group came from New Hampshire, this incredible group has done many mission trips, many overseas in third world countries. They ate dinner with the local Methodist Church who fed them in return to hearing stories of their wonderful adventures. On their last night in town they went to Church with Anthony at True Vine in Harlem and were impressed with Pastor Fred Gamble's message and the enthusiasm of the congregation! During their Spring Break Field Trip they repaired roofs and demonstrated their incredible work ethic and spirit.

Our long term volunteer from Michigan Art, continues to help us out this month working on several small projects.

May blooms into a great start with bright volunteers that continue to travel to our rural little town to assist our Hurricane Wilma victims.

Grace United Methodist came again this month and continues to work tirelessly repairing remote location homes on the first Saturday of the month. They have been so regular that we can almost count that they will be here each first Saturday of each month.

Another group traveled quite a long way, all the way from Washington State, they arrived Saturday and will be here till the end of the week. Check back for pictures and updates of what they accomplish!

Please ignore the dates on the pictures, our volunteer photographer has not quite figured out how to work that particular setting!

My SAFE Florida Home Program News

CFO ALEX SINK CONGRATULATES LEGISLATURE FOR
IMPROVING MY SAFE FLORIDA HOME PROGRAM

TALLAHASSEE—Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink today applauded the Legislature’s passage of HB 7057, which makes improvements to the state’s My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) program. CFO Sink leads the department administering the program, the Department of Financial Services, and has been working with legislative leadership to make the program more efficient for Florida homeowners.

“The measures passed today by the Legislature will allow the My Safe Florida Home program to serve more Floridians and to boost our efforts to educate homeowners about the importance of mitigation,” said CFO Sink. “As Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, I look forward to increasing awareness about the financial and safety benefits available to Floridians who take steps to harden their homes.”

HB 7057 was sponsored by State Representatives Anthony Trey Traveisa (R-Tampa), Michael Grant (R-Port Charlotte), Robert “Rob” Schenck (R-Spring Hill) and James “Jim” Waldman (D-Coconut Creek) and now heads to Governor Charlie Crist for his signature. State Senator Bill Posey (R-Rockledge) sponsored SB 2596, the Senate companion.

After being streamlined to provide better service and expanded statewide, the MSFH program in April resumed offering eligible Floridians free wind inspections. More than 50,000 homeowners are on the program’s waiting list and these homeowners should expect to be served by the end of the summer. Any Floridians on the waiting list who have not heard from a participating wind inspection firm by June 30, 2007, should contact the MSFH program’s toll-free helpline at 1-866-513-MSFH (6734).

New applicants can apply over the MSFH program’s Web site at http://www.mysafefloridahome.com/ or over the program’s toll-free helpline at 1-866-513-MSFH (6734), but should not expect to receive a free wind inspection before August 2007, as the more than 50,000 pilot phase applicants have first priority. However, Floridians who are not interested in participating in the MSFH program and are willing to pay the $150 fee for a wind inspection, can visit the Web site to learn how they can contact one of the MSFH program’s 11 wind inspection firms directly.

To date, the MSFH program has awarded nearly $200,000 to 88 Florida homeowners who hardened their homes against hurricanes through the MSFH program. The homeowners, who received free wind inspections during the pilot phase of the program, are being reimbursed for half the cost of a variety of home improvements, including hurricane shutters, reinforced garage doors and roof enhancements. More than 5,100 Floridians are currently working on mitigation improvements through the MSFH program and will receive their matching grants once the work has been completed.

The MSFH program helps Floridians identify how they can strengthen their homes and reduces the overall potential for hurricane damage in our state. In addition to providing education about how to better mitigate Florida homes, the program offers eligible homeowners free wind inspections by trained wind inspectors. Homeowners who have received these inspections also have the opportunity to apply for a matching grant to make recommended improvements.

# # #

As a statewide elected officer of the Florida Cabinet, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink oversees the Department of Financial Services, a multi-division state agency responsible for management of state funds and unclaimed property, assisting consumers who request information and help related to financial services, and investigating financial fraud. CFO Sink also serves as the State Fire Marshal.

CITY OF CLEWISTON helps Residents!

The City of Clewiston joins with CREW to help out local residents, according to minutes from City Council.

"FEMA Demobilization/Modified Sales Program.

Keith Denning, representing FEMA, said his agency will be ending its housing assistance program on April 24, 2007, although FEMA will continue to have a presence in the area.

City Manager Johnson said there were 29-occupied FEMA trailers left in the city limits. With the FEMA deadline approaching, Mr. Johnson asked the commission to consider options to provide housing for those families who cannot find housing accommodations by the deadline. FEMA’s modified sales program (MSP) provides three options: (1) sell the trailer to a disaster victim and end the responsibility for the trailer, (2) immediately donate the trailer to the disaster victim and end all responsibility for the unit, or (3) continue to house the hurricane victim in the trailer for an additional year; after that year, the City can use the unit for any purpose.

The City can use Disaster Relief Funds, estimated at $20,000 to $25,000, to buy the units. The concern is once the trailers are sold they must be moved since most of the remaining units are in nonconforming areas. Although FEMA will assist with moving the units to other locations, few conforming sites are available.

CREW, the organization established after Hurricane Wilma to help hurricane victims with the restoration and rebuilding of their homes, had Board approval to serve as a nonprofit agency for administering the MSP. CREW Director Trish Adams said they were willing to help the occupants find other housing or conforming lots for the trailers. Mr. Johnson said at the end of the 12 months, CREW would become the owners of the trailers and responsible for removing the nonconforming units. Purchasers must provide a certificate of zoning compliance. If not in compliance, the sale cannot be made.

Commissioner Pittman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Richard Miller, to extend the emergency declaration for Hurricane Wilma to April 24, 2008, and to participate in FEMA’s Modified Sales Program by providing funds only, up to $30,000, to the CREW organization. The funds are to be disbursed by the city manager and the finance director on a case-by-case basis. The units may remain in the nonconforming areas; however, the nonconformity status still applies, but allows the units to legally remain until April 24, 2008. Motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.
City Attorney Schoech clarified that the Commission was not waiving the non conformance status, just providing an extension for that limited period of time. "

VFF and CREW

Milestone Reached in Hendry County's Long-Term Recovery Effort

By Liza McFadden
President, CEO
Volunteer Florida Foundation


Volunteer Florida Foundation joined with the Community Rebuilding Ecumenical Workforce (CREW) to assist in the process of assisting FEMA to find solutions for families impacted by Hurricane Wilma. The community as a whole has done a commendable job of taking over the mantle of responsibility for recovery efforts that will continue.

Even while the majority of FEMA’s work is completed, the nonprofit and faith-based groups serving Hendry County will continue to assist those who were hardest hit and those who are most vulnerable because, as everyone who lived through Wilma knows, every survivor has his or her individual circumstances to cope with while overcoming the challenges created by wind, rain and flood.

Dozens of people are still in temporary housing and will need additional help and guidance in finding long-term safe and secure shelter. This work is ahead of us and I believe the resources and the community’s caring spirit will prevail.

Yet, much has already been accomplished. Hundreds of FEMA trailers were brought in after the hurricane swept through. Just over 140 remained in FEMA trailers, as we embarked on this ambitious project in February, 2007 to find shelter for these families before FEMA’s April 24 deadline.

CREW did this work with funds made available by FEMA and the Florida Disaster Recovery Fund, managed by Volunteer Florida Foundation, along with the added resources and cooperation of City of Clewiston and other agencies. Of course, there have been numerous volunteers who have pitched in for months on end, not ending their efforts a few weeks after the hurricane.

FEMA was a responsive partner, bringing about $70,000 to assist with funding CREW’s staff for this project. Volunteer Florida Foundation also provided over $65,000 Disaster Recovery Fund private dollars to assist with unmet needs, covering such things as first and last month’s rent for many who had not been able to save for the day they would need to move from the trailers.

Other major partners that financially contributed to the success of this project include the American Red Cross and the American Association of Retired Persons.

Hendry County has risen to the challenge with tremendous commitment and compassion. It’s truly rewarding to work with groups such as the CREW, and I applaud them for taking on a task that, if it had been easy, would have already been accomplished. What's been done in Hendry County is what leadership is all about.

Affordable housing is a challenge all Florida communities face, even more so in the wake of the swarm of hurricanes of 2004 and 2005. It will take time to cobble together broad-based solutions, but in the meantime, Hendry County’s caring spirit has been a blessing to so many in the community in their time of need.

I thank all the groups that were part of this humanitarian project, particularly FEMA and CREW both of which did the heaviest lifting during the final two months.

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Liza McFadden is president and CEO of Volunteer Florida Foundation, a nonprofit foundation that manages the Florida Disaster Recovery Fund. She is based in Tallahassee.

The forgotten Wilma vicitms get help from one small rural community!

Clewiston and surrounding communities really pull together to cater to those volunteering their time to help out residents still recovering from Hurricane Wilma in Hendry and Glades counties. Local businesses, such as Cafe' Tropical, McDonald's, Subway, Burger King, Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q, Clewiston Bakery, and Common Grounds often offer free or reduced price meals for our volunteers. Community Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church and First United Methodist Church feed almost every group that visits at least one time a week for dinner, offering fellowship as well as nourishment. In addition First United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church, Community Presbyterian Church, and Iglesia De Dios Pentecostal MI churches all provide rooms for these volunteers to crash and relax in while they are here working! Local social service and government agencies also pitch in to help find resources for the families as well, agencies such as The Empowerment Alliance of Southwest Florida, The United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties, the Rotary Club, the City of Clewisoton, the County SHIP programs in both Hendry and Glades counties, USDA Rural Development, United Church of Christ, United Methodist Committee on Relief, Lutheran Disaster Response, Volunteer Florida Foundation, and others all either helped provide direct assistance or fund the work of the volunteers,or help out with CREW expenses so that they could locate, recruit, coordinate, and fund this assistance.

CREW is Grateful!

CREW, Inc. had a very successful celebration and awards banquet on Saturday night (April 21, 2007). We celebrated the successes and discussed what more needs to be done. Exact figures for income minus costs are not in, but we figure that we made about $7,000 Saturday night.

We wanted to make sure the community knows that we did not do this alone. First and foremost, we know that God has had His hand in this from the beginning; we Praise and Thank Him for this. If it had not been for the Clewiston Ministerial Association, CREW would not have been born or gotten off the ground. The volunteers both local and from all over the country have helped us achieve the successful closing of 340 cases. We have had over 50 groups and numerous individuals both locally and from all over the nation assists us. Organized groups such as United Methodist Committee On Relief, Presbyterian Disaster Association, Lutheran Disaster Response and United Church of Christ have sent work teams repeatedly. We have over 350 open cases to go. We completed our first rebuild, have repaired numerous roofs and repaired interior damage, built handicapped ramps, removed debris, and demolished homes. We have completed assessments and developed case plans on 750 families. 90% of these cases are related to Hurricane Wilma, the remaining are Tropical Storm Ernesto and 4 were fire related.

The following partners have helped CREW become what it is today and were recognized at the banquet: Clewiston Ministerial Association, Ministerial Association of Hendry County, Community Presbyterian Church, Church World Service, Lutheran Disaster Response, Rotary Club, United Church of Christ, NFL/United Way Partnership, Presbyterian Disaster Association, United Methodist Committee On Relief, United Methodist Storm Recovery, United Way of Lee Hendry and Glades County, Voluntary Florida Foundation Disaster Recovery Fund, Iglesia De Dios Pentecostal MI, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, Iva Pittman, City of Clewiston, Aida Barnhart Hendry County SHIP program, Erica Villafuerte Glades County, Clewiston Inn, and The Empowerment Alliance of Southwest Florida.

The following people donated items to the silent auction at which we raised $460. Susan Deveney, Trish Adams, Mimi McCallum, Robin Lee Makowski, Sunkist Tanning, Hungry Howie’s, Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Que, and Paul and Helen Nelson.

God Bless Hendry and Glades Counties and all those who make it great!

Trish Adams, LCSW
Executive Director for CREW
Long Term Recovery Coordinator for United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties

CREW Fundraising Gala is a success!

The CREW fundraiser was a success and also was a chance for CREW to recognize all those individuals, families and agencies that have helped us along the way. Awards of appreciation were given to all those who helped CREW in meeting the needs of the community. Reverend John Hicks and Vice President of CREW David McClusky presented the awards and told the story of how CREW grew from a request made by the City of Clewiston to the Clewiston Ministerial Association. Friend and former Radio DJ and Chairman of Chamber of Commerce, Sean Moore, helped MC the night. Two of the families CREW helped also attended and told how much the help they received from CREW helped them get their lives back together. CREW also presented their first rebuild, for one of these families, with their official Certificate of Occupancy as a surprise after overcoming numerous road blocks. During the event, CREW shared about all the families they have been able to help (over 300), and how many more Hurricane Wilma families are still left to help (still over 300). They also shared their hopes that no future storms will wreck havac on our two counties, and talked about their plans to help residents in our counties recover from smaller disasters such as fires and tropical storms, as well as to promote disaster preparedness and awareness and to help mitigate homes in the future.

Check out the pictures! http://www.msnusers.com/CREWInc/shoebox.msnw

Pictures were taken a a gift by Photos by Renee. Visit their website at: http://www.prophotosbyrene.com/mp_includes/index.asp

CREW celebrates National Volunteer Week!

CREW celebrates Volunteer Appreciation Week! Grace Ministries from Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Coral was here on the 14th and Art Haas from the Lutheran Disaster Response volunteered all week. We also had our volunteer Long Term Recovery Meeting for FEMA related clients on Tuesday and our volunteer Long Term Recovery Meeting for the two counties as a whole on Wednesday. In addition, a new volunteer group arrives today from New Hampshire through the United Church of Christ Organization!

“Volunteers are not paid -- not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.”
Anonymous (from CRWRC Website)
http://www.crwrc.org/?action=d7_article_viewer_view_article&Join_ID=147772

CREW receives award at National VOAD conference!

C.R.E.W. Inc. wins award for National Excellence in long term recovery from National VOAD (National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) at their annual conference in beautiful New Mexico. The award was given for partnering with so many agencies and having a lot of heart and few resources but still managing to help so many in need from Hurricane Wilma and a handful from other disasters.

CREW helps clean up Clewiston!

CREW is dedicated to helping our community. On Saturday, their day off, four staff members (Laisa Mariana, Trish and Akiva), Board Treasuer Scott and five children (Ty-Sean, Bruce, Bobby, DJ and Jonathan) all pitched in on the CREW team to help Clean up Clewiston in the City's 2nd Annual Spring Cleaning. They filled up 13 bags of trash in just a four block radius! Pictured here is Scott, Bruce, Ty-Sean, Bobby, Trish, Mariana, and Laisa!

VOLUNTEER GROUPS PITCH IN!

A group of 10 volunteers from Tangier United Methodist Church in Virginia come and work the week of March 11th through March 17th on their vacation time to work on a Wilma destroyed home, replacing half of his roof, hanging drywall, finishing drywall, laying sub flooring in a bathroom and installing a bathtub. They also, repaired his porch from the roof to the screen. They worked hard the entire week in Clewiston.

A group of 30 High School students from Boca Raton Christian School students and 6 adults come for their Spring Break for the week of March 22nd through March 27th. The group worked on 3 homes, installing vinyl flooring throughout the entire homes. This group took the weekend off, and despite their bus having some starter issues managed a trip to Busch Gardens. They also helped with some demolition work. They worked in Montura and Ridgedill.

A group from the Presbyterian Church of Boca Raton returned (they have helped out several times before) for the day on March 17th. This group sent 10 volunteers to help install four windows, two doors, build a ramp and repair some drywall in Labelle.