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Aug 27, 2007 8:41 am US/Central
Churches Pool Efforts For Flood Relief
by John Lauritsen
(WCCO)
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The supplies will be delivered to Rushford, Minn., where flooding last weekend filled the streets. (File)
Eric Humble
The efforts of several Twin Cities church groups are ensuring extra help will find its way down to southeastern Minnesota, where victims of massive floods are still recovering.
"Everybody needs a hand, now and then. This time it's there turn, next time it might be our turn. ... You always hope, 'Gosh, I hope someone is helping them,'" said Pastor Andy Gray, who said he was motivated after watching the devastation unfold last weekend. "I just thought maybe I should help, maybe I should get something going."
Gray first contacted the Red Cross in Rushford, Minn. to find out what specifically they needed.
On their advice, he set up a truck outside his South Minneapolis church and asked parishioners of all ages to donate what they could.
"We donated some diapers and some foodstuffs and just some things that we think they could use right away," said donor Bill Saunders.
The response from Gray's congregation was encouraging, but that wasn't the end of the effort.
The truck took off from the Urban Refuge Church for its next stop, where donations from another church in Bloomington, Minn. were waiting.
"I've had relatives who have gone through this situation," said Ken Moe while making his donations and assisting with loading up the truck. "To be able to help someone else is a good feeling."
The Red Cross suggested the importance of donating cleaning supplies, as homes needed to be disinfected as soon as possible to prevent mildew, mold and bacteria buildups.
One very important donated item -- roughly 100 gallon jugs of water -- was loaded onto the truck via human chain. When all had been loaded, the big yellow truck was packed to the gills.
"I'm very glad we decided to do it and I hope it helps," said Isaiah Gray, Pastor Gray's son.
Once all donations had been accepted, the truck was set for a 130-mile trek to Rushford, where the Red Cross will make sure everything will be put to good use.
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