WCN Employee, Volunteers Return From Storm Relief Efforts In New Jersey, New York
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BY JENNIFER PERYAM-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
World Compassion Network operations manager and disaster relief coordinator Greg Rauen and volunteer disaster relief coordinator Mark Hazelet recently returned from Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. WCN is organizing a group in conjunction with Trinity Evangelical Free Church, South Bend, to travel to Staten Island, N.Y., to assist with hurricane relief. Rauen and Hazelet went to Ocean City, N.J., on Nov. 2 to 4 for an initial disaster assessment. “We helped set up a food distribution center that helped 900 families,” Hazelet said. “One of the most popular items we delivered was our flood buckets and teams were organized to help clean up the homes.” Volunteers helped cut out carpet in homes and cut out drywall and empty homes that had flood debris. There were approximately 40,000 pounds of relief supplies that were delivered by Metzger Trucking Company. Supplies included Gatorade, non-perishable food, flood buckets, hygiene kits, and food boxes. A disaster relief distribution was set for these supplies at Ocean City Tabernacle Church working through Coastal Christian Church. Supplies were distributed locally as an outreach to victims and supplies also were delivered to Atlantic City Rescue Mission and other churches in the area. Raun said during the needs assesment the immediate needs were determined. “You are trying to stop the bleeding so to speak because people both emotionally and physically are in shock and you can’t serve everyone but try to do everything you can to mitigate and stop the initial bleeding,” Rauen said. On Nov. 8 to 13 Hazelet and WCN volunteers Alan Lucht and Mike Bryant traveled to Staten Island, N.Y., with WCN’s 70,000-watt generator. The generator was used to power Oasis Christian Church that functioned as a major relief center, a parsonage and a temporary feeding center for approximately five days. “Where we worked they had no power so it helped to have a generator,” Hazelet said. The team assisted with clean up and debris removal from flooded homes. On Nov. 10 a second load of 35,000 pounds of relief supplies was delivered to Ocean City by Metzger Trucking Company. Hazelet and a volunteer assisted with unloading items. The supplies included winter coats, hats and gloves collected by Warsaw Community High School students.
