In March, at the Southwestern Union Convention snack bags were made by attendees and sent for the service project ‘More Compassion’ in El Paso. Along with the snack bags, the older students from El Paso Jr Academy, known as the upper graders, enthusiastically packed hygiene kits, blankets and the bags of love for the homeless. The Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) students and local college students distributed these bags all around El Paso as immigrants and homeless are scattered throughout the city.
Also, the hygiene kits, made at the convention are being requested by Dallas County Emergency Management, along with blankets, hand sanitizer and bottled water that will go to benefit refugees as they are transferred out of Dallas, offering them some comfort during their challenging journey.
Deborah Gendke, Associate Director of ACS Texas Conference shared a deep expression of gratitude to all who participated in the Union Convention and service project. Their involvement made a significant difference in the lives of those they reached.
ACS Warehouse manager, Natalie Word, and NAD ACS Director, Derrick Lea, speak with the Lee County official about assistance.
ACS Disaster Response teams from the Southeastern and Florida conferences are currently operating two State Warehouses in Florida in response to Hurricane Ian. One is located in Fort Myers, and the other in Coral Springs, the larger of the two with 250,000 square feet of usable space. In addition, Distribution Sites have been set up at multiple churches that give ACS volunteers an opportunity to have direct contact with those affected in the community, portraying Christ’s love in action through service. Last Thursday, a delivery of goods was sent to two sites in Naples and Fort Myers. Volunteers helped unload the water and food items that are being distributed throughout this week to residents.
The South Central Conference ACS team is also rendering support on the ground in Coral Springs as a portion of their territory includes certain areas of Florida State. “It’s this collaborative spirit that strengthens ACS around the NAD, and enables us to continue to be one of the most respected organizations operating in Donations Management,” stated W. Derrick Lea, Executive Director of NAD ACS.
FEMA is providing aid to homeowners and renters in certain counties who had uninsured losses from Hurricane Ian that may be eligible for federal disaster assistance. FEMA may provide financial help with temporary housing expenses, basic home repairs, and other essential disaster-related needs. Eligible counties include Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, and Volusia.
The South Central Conference Adventist Community Service Disaster Response Team (ACS DR) has partnered with the members of the South Mississippi churches, to provide some relief for the water crisis in Jackson Mississippi. The city’s clean water shortage happened after the city experienced a high level of flooding due to heavy rainfall over the last week, leaving the city without enough safe water for people to use. Read More
On June 13, 2022, catastrophic flooding due to heavy rainfall and rapid snowmelt resulted in the closure of Yellowstone National Park with over 10,000 tourists evacuated. The unprecedented flooding has caused massive destruction in several surrounding communities in Southwest Montana. Road closures, collapsed bridges, damage to homes and property are forcing residents to evacuate. The Montana Conference ACS Disaster Response team has been engaged in the Recovery Efforts under the coordination of ACS Director, Gabriele Miranda-Laub.
A group of volunteers led by ACS trained member, Sheila Elwin, helped clean out areas in Livingston that were flooded and distributed 5-gallon flood buckets filled with cleaning supplies. The Southwest Montana COAD organized a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) at the Livingston Fairgrounds where people could come and get information for help from various organizations, including the State of Montana and FEMA. A MARC was also held in Gardiner last Sabbath where buckets donated by a local company were distributed.
Pastor Carlile and church members from the Billings and Bridger churches responded in the Red Lodge and Fromberg areas. Hundred flood buckets filled with cleaning supplies donated by the Upper Columbia Conference, and 200 blankets as well as some comfort kits were distributed in Fromberg. “The buckets represent a collaborative effort of ACS, Pathfinders, and NPUC Disaster Response Coordinator. Thank you to Richie Brower and Pathfinders, Larry Mays (NPUC Disaster Response Coordinator), and others who assisted in filling these buckets several months ago in readiness of such a disaster occurring,” stated Patty Marsh, ACS Director of Upper Columbia Conference.
“I want to thank all of the volunteers, as well as the Upper Columbia Conference, that have been serving in our conference and state. ‘In Christ’s name’…is what we do. God Bless each one of you, stated Miranda-Laub.
Let us keep the affected communities in prayer as they cope with this tragedy.
The Red Lodge community inundated by recent Montana flooding. Photo Credit: Chris Sullivan, NBC Montana.
The ACS Disaster Response team at the Rocky Mountain Conference is leading the efforts in response to the recent Marshall Fire, the 6,000-acre wildfire that has destroyed 1,270 homes and businesses in Colorado. The estimates on damage exceed a half-billion dollars, making it the most destructive fire in Colorado history.
The ACS team, under the leadership of Cathy Kissner, Conference ACS director, has been at work serving at the Distribution Center in Broomfield for the past few weeks. The center which is located in Flatiron Mall at a former Nordstrom department store is operating seven days a week. Over 150 volunteers are working hard sorting, moving, and distributing goods to the affected communities. ACS will continue to lead this operation for the next three months or so, before turning it over to a local NGO.
On December 30, 2021, multiple growing and fast-moving grassfires raged through the Colorado suburbs of Louisville and Superior at the base of the Rocky Mountains in Boulder County. These record-setting fires have destroyed more than 1,000 homes and property as powerful winds rained down embers on subdivisions that fires had never before touched. Tens of thousands of residents have been evacuated as strong winds continue to blow through these areas and spread the fire to homes.
North American Division Adventist Community Services (NAD ACS) has been in communication with the Rocky Mountain Conference ACS leadership, Colorado Emergency Management, and Colorado VOAD, to determine how our ACS DR teams will be utilized to render assistance to the communities in Boulder.
Let us remember the affected communities in our prayers.
The recent Midwest tornadoes have left communities with considerable damage to homes and property, closed roads, power outage, and numerous fatalities. ACS directors in the affected conferences have spent many hours connecting with members of their Disaster Response team to determine the needs that ACS might be able to assist with. These needs include warehouse management, mobile distribution of goods, and debris removal.
Kentucky-Tennessee Conference – Partnering with local churches in the Kentucky area to help with debris removal and putting together a Warehouse Management team.
South Central Conference – Preparing to deploy Warehouse teams in Kentucky and Tennessee as needed.
Arkansas-Louisiana Conference – Forming multiple teams that will deliver goods throughout the affected areas in Arkansas.
Lake Region Conference – Conducting a needs assessment in Illinois.
Please remember the communities affected by this tragedy, as well as those responding to the needs.
On December 10, 2021, a deadly tornado moved across Western Kentucky, causing havoc on numerous towns in the state. Crossing through twelve counties during its lifespan, the tornado was exceptionally long-tracked, traveling over 200 miles that produced a series of strong tornadoes in five other states, as well. At least 45 fatalities have been confirmed, although the total death toll is estimated to be nearly 100. It is declared to be the largest tornado recorded in history.
North American Division Adventist Community Services (NAD ACS) has been in communication with the ACS Disaster Response leaders in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Arkansas, Missouri, and Mississippi. Currently, Kentucky appears to be the State most heavily impacted. Assessment is taking place at present and some of our conferences, Kentucky-Tennessee, South Central, Arkansas-Louisiana, and Georgia- Cumberland, are actively putting together their teams for work. The Kentucky-TennesseeConference is purchasing supplies to aid in the Relief Efforts. We are also staying connected to the Emergency Management in the affected areas.
If you would like to make a monetary donation towards the tornado relief efforts, please see the links below.
One of the volunteers interviewing residents to document their need
Though Hurricane Ida touched down in Louisiana over a month ago on August 29, 2021, several communities affected by this tragic disaster event continue to struggle. ACS at the Arkansas-Louisiana Conference has been engaged in the Recovery Efforts under the leadership of Lavida Whitson, conference ACS Director, who had been gathering various goods over the past number of years. Fortunately, these much-needed goods that were on hand were ready to be distributed to community members through a Distribution Center that was set up in Hammond. However, there were some families that didn’t have the ability to travel the long distance to Hammond which led to ACS coordinating mobile distributions in certain areas. In addition to giving away supplies, ACS volunteers also assisted with debris cleanup.
On October 9, 2021, Sabbath morning, fifteen ACS team members came together to assist the small town of Maurepas by providing them comfort kits and cleaning tools such as shovels, brooms, mops, and other cleaning supplies. Initially, no one showed up, and then Lavida realized that they had done everything but pray, so she offered the first prayer. And then, another team member gave a closing prayer to request God’s presence in their work. At the close of his prayer, they opened their eyes to see a line of cars patiently waiting on them. At this point the team sprang into action and continued doing so until everything they had was gone.
While assisting in Maurepas, a contact from the Indian Nation had reached out asking for help. During the Katrina Recovery Efforts, ACS assisted the Houma Indian Nation for many months, and based on this history, they were asking if we might be able to assist with Ida Recovery also. NAD ACS Director, Derrick Lea, along with Whitson, met with the Vice Principal Chief of the Houma Nation to get an overview of what the needs were within his community and ascertain how ACS could be of support. The Nation was made up of around 17,000 individuals out of which many had been displaced. Even though rebuilding of the homes was determined to be the greatest need, clothing, bedding, and other household items were also in demand. The local ACS team is putting goods together for distribution in this community. They will carry out similar work in other impacted areas as well, in the next few days. “ACS will continue serving though the news no longer highlights this continued need. One resident approached me as we surveyed the damage to the Houma Nation radio station and asked, “What are we supposed to do?” While I didn’t have a good answer, I did express to her our intent of helping her and people like her with the goods that we have. My hope is these efforts combined with others will ensure a livable situation for many that have been overlooked,” stated Lea.
Setting up the signage to get started
One of the trailers filled with the goods to be distributed
ACS team praying for God’s presence in their work
One of the volunteers interviewing residents to document their need
A resident with his tractor came looking for assistance
All DR buckets were eventually used
Cars lining up to receive cleaning supplies
Cars lining up to receive cleaning supplies
Cars lining up to receive cleaning supplies
Signs like this blanketed the Houma Nation community
Houma Nation headquarters with destroyed radio station next door
ACS teams in various conferences such as Wisconsin and Chesapeake are providing assistance to refugees arriving from Afghanistan. Wisconsin Conference ACS Director, Alice Garrett, has been in collaboration with the Wisconsin VOAD (WI VOAD) and Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) to help more than 12,000 refugees who are currently being housed at Fort McCoy. They have put together a needs list consisting of new clothing and shoes. Garrett is reaching out to our local churches to collect and deliver goods consisting of new clothing and shoes. “I am so grateful for our churches generosity and money has been turned in so we can purchase some things the Fort is in need of,” said Garrett. “So far, I have good help and we will be able to make this happen,” she added.
Chesapeake Conference ACS team members are also responding to the Afghanistan crisis by providing emotional and spiritual care to the evacuees. There were 36,000 who arrived at Dulles airport in Virginia and thousands of others who arrived in Philadelphia. “These are people who are having to completely restart their lives. Many are experiencing shock. We’re here for them in these moments of change, stress, and loneliness. We’re here to show them care and love and to let them know that they’re not alone,” stated Ignacio Goya, ACS Director for Chesapeake Conference. Click here to read article by the Chesapeake Conference.
Ignacio Goya, ACS Director for Chesapeake Conference, stands in the processing center for refugees arriving in the United States through Dulles airport. Photo Credit: Chesapeake Conference.
We regret to announce the passing of Pr. Ray Lamare Elsberry on August 26, 2021, at age 78 in Dora, Alabama. He served as the ACS and ACS Disaster Response Director for the Gulf States Conference for over 14 years and held these positions unofficially for over 22 years in various capacities, as well. Ray also held the State VOAD Chair position until he retired from his responsibilities in October of 2019. In addition, he pastored the Seventh-day Adventist churches in Columbus, Mississippi and in Phil Campbell, Alabama. He was a devout Christian who never met a stranger and was a friend to everyone he came across.
Ray was an instrumental leader over the decades for ACS ministry. He was recognized for his work in ACS at the Gulf States Conference Executive Committee meeting in October of 2019, where he was presented with plaques from NAD ACS and the Gulf States Conference to honor his dedication to helping others. “I so enjoyed working with Ray within the Gulf States territory. I could count on him to know exactly who to speak with in order to accomplish the work that needed to be done. Ray was truly a resource and I will miss him,” said, W. Derrick Lea, NAD ACS Director.
Please keep Nita Elsberry, wife of Ray, and the family in your prayers for strength and comfort during this difficult time.
Dave Livermore, right, president of Gulf States Conference, presents Pr. Ray Elsberry with a plaque to honor his service in ACS.
The administrative team of the Gulf States Conference present Pr. Elsberry with a plaque.
The Southwest Region Conference has been housing residents from New Orleans and surrounding areas whose homes had to be evacuated, at various locations around the conference office. The largest facility that was able to accommodate most people was the Lone Star campground in Athens, Texas. In addition to ACS providing aid, other departments from the conference have stopped by such as the Family Ministries Director, W.S. Lee, who met with many individuals on the campground. Since social distancing rules are in place, the number of people will be kept to a reasonable amount before they’re directed to other facilities such as WHO (World Harvest Organization) and Fondren in Houston who have prepared their churches for any overflow. The evacuees are provided with food and other essential items, as well. The Arkansas-Louisiana Conference is preparing to set up a Mobile Distribution into some of the hardest-hit areas by collecting goods that will be used for this operation. However, people are being asked not to come into the area due to the high flood waters, downed power lines, and fallen trees. Hammond and Grand Isle were hit the hardest as the storm swept through these areas as a Category 3 hurricane.
Lone Star campground in Athens, Texas.
Having evacuated from New Orleans, Derrick tells of how he might move his family to another less vulnerable area.
one of the cabins used by those evacuated out of New Orleans.
On Sunday afternoon, August 29, 2021, Hurricane Ida made landfall along the U.S. northern Gulf coast as a Category 4 storm, severely affecting Louisiana and Mississippi with drenching rains, relentless winds, and massive storm surge. More than 2,500 people fled Ida’s path and spent Sunday night in community shelters. Over one million residents are currently without power across Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Many neighborhoods that are still recovering from the devastation of hurricanes in 2020 are now facing flooded homes yet again, along with a daunting recovery process. And Hurricane Ida isn’t done yet; expected flash flooding, damaging winds, and significant rainfall will continue as the storm moves north this week.
We have been in constant contact with our ACS leadership at the local conferences who are currently on the ground with their Disaster Response teams rendering support to the affected communities. Southwest Region Conference ACS Director, Durandel Ford, is leading his team in providing food and other needed items through mobile distribution. They are also setting up shelters at a few local churches to house evacuees. ACS Director of Arkansas-Louisiana Conference, Lavida Whitson, is working with her team to compile supplies that will be used either at a specific point of Distribution or take them into the devastated areas.
Please remember in your prayers the communities who have been affected by this disaster event.
Photo Credit: Edmund D. Fountain for The New York Times
