Oak Ridge office receives $28,800 for tornado rebuilding
By Annette Bender
The Oak Ridge District office has received a $10,000 grant from United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and more than $18,800 from Holston individuals and groups to rebuild homes damaged by tornadoes on Nov. 10.
Now, the district is organizing work teams and coordinating with other organizations to aid an estimated 130 residents of Morgan and Anderson counties who lost their homes.
Among tornado-relief funds received in the Oak Ridge District office were donations from Tazewell and Big Stone Gap districts, according to the Rev. Gordon Ridenour, Oak Ridge superintendent.
"They said they know what it's like to be ravaged by storms," said Ridenour, referring to flooding that devastated parts of Tazewell and Big Stone Gap districts in 2001 and 2002. "We've been really overwhelmed and gratified by the response from individuals, local churches, Sunday school classes, and other districts."
The funds will be used for building materials to support work teams, Ridenour added.
About 20 persons will be needed for daily work in communities affected by the disaster, according to Holston disaster-relief coordinator John Houvenagle. On Nov. 22, Houvenagle met with representatives from organizations including Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross to coordinate relief efforts. Holston work teams who want to participate in rebuilding homes should contact Houvenagle at (423) 253-4906 or johnh@hopeindustries.com.
Since Nov. 10, aid from United Methodists has largely come from individuals and local-church groups. The Rev. Kristie Banes, pastor of the Sunbright Circuit, helped sort donated clothing and other supplies in the former Red Kapp warehouse in Wartburg, Tenn. The warehouse has been designated as a central collection and distribution point, where groups can drop off donated supplies. Tornado- stricken residents of nearby Joyner, Petros and Mossy Grove can pick up needed items from the warehouse.
Sunbright's youth group has volunteered at the warehouse, while church members took lunches to disaster workers in the field, Banes said. The Sunbright Circuit is comprised of Sunbright, Mt. Vernon, and Rugby Road United Methodist churches, located 15 to 30 minutes away from tornado-stricken areas.
Several Holston churches have delivered goods to the warehouse, Banes said. A spokesperson for Kern Memorial UMC said that14 truckloads of supplies had been delivered from the church. "The biggest need now is for laundry detergent and building materials," she said. Tornado victims accepting donated clothing want to wash the clothing before wearing it, she explained.
Relief organizers have also requested building tools and kerosene heaters. Church members may drop off supplies at one of the Holston collection points listed at the end of this article or call the Red Kapp warehouse at (423) 346-2002 for information on delivering goods directly to the warehouse.
In a community where tornado damage was high, Petros UMC's building was not directly affected, according to pastor Bobby Barton.
"The church escaped all damage, although it was close to the tornado site, and none of our people lost homes," the Rev. Barton said.
However, the son of one Petros UMC member lost his home to the tornado. Another Petros member housed a family the night their home was swept away.
Petros church members plan to help rebuild homes because that's where the need is highest, Barton said. "I tried to scope out the needs of the community, and most people are so close to each other that nobody's left out in the cold. They're staying with relatives or friends," he said.
Other United Methodists participating in relief efforts include Annie Patterson, director of Appalachian Habitat for Humanity and member of Rugby Road UMC. The Rev. Jeff Wadley, pastor of Holston's Blount County church plant, served as emergency services director for the Tennessee Civil Air Patrol on the night of the tornado and for three days afterward.
"Even though the United Methodist Church may have not been the first on the scene, many of the rescue workers and relief workers were there immediately, practicing their faith in their community by being involved in these organizations," Wadley said.
Groups and individuals may make financial contributions to Oak Ridge District. To receive conference credit, checks must be made to "Holston Conference."
(For churches wishing to receive UMCOR credit, checks must include "#026, Tennessee tornado relief" on the memo line. However, checks marked "#143, Tennessee tornado relief" will be forwarded to the Oak Ridge District sooner.) Mail checks to: Holston Conference, P.O. Box 2056, Johnson City, TN 37605.
Holston churches accepting donated goods include: Harriman UMC, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., (865) 882-1353; LaFollette UMC, 9 a.m.-noon, 1-4 p.m., (866) 417-8386; and Lake City UMC, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., (865) 426-6189.
At Lake City, only food, bedding and linens, toiletries and cleaning supplies are being accepted. Please call ahead. Kern Memorial UMC is no longer accepting donated items.
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