DRS Current Activities
November 9, 2009
The reconstruction site in Cedar Rapids, IA will be closing for the winter this month. Our plans will be to reopen the site in the Spring of 2010 and keep the site open into the fall.
We have a large Needs Assessment team in the Atlanta, GA area this month going door-to-door and staffing walk-in centers. Atlanta experienced major flooding in September 2009 receiving 15 inches of rain in just a few days. The team will be in the Atlanta area from 11/7 -21.
ReconstructionCedar Rapids, IA (10/31/09 – 11/21/09) |
Kenner, LA (10/31/09 – 11/21/09)
Disaster: Hurricane Rita, Fall 2005
Project Manager: Len & Carrie Blauwkamp
On-Site Managers: Tom & Grace Silvis
Construction Supervisors: Ed & Sonja Buisman
Team: John & Audrey Tjaarda, Lawrence & Boukje De Raaf, Peter Faber, Harry & Annie Kerkhof, Dan & Gerda Wubben, Don Koopman, Bill La Fleur, Doug & Judy Warners, John & Carol Schuitema, Harris & Donna Rotman
Lake Charles, LA (OPENING 11/22/09)
Disaster: Hurricane Rita, Fall 2005
Project Managers: Doug & Pat Guikema
Port Arthur, TX (10/31/09 – 11/21/09)
Disaster: Hurricane Rita, Fall 2005
Project Managers: Dan & Lynne De Boer
On-Site Managers: Clarence & Jane Damsma
Construction Supervisors: Rich & Phyl Grevenstuk
Team: John & Joyce Visser, Aubrey & Margaret Gaines, Dirk & Margaret VanOord, Bill & Geralee Hoekstra, Joe & Margaret De Weerd, Dale & Judy Aalderink, Dirk & Elly Evans, Gary & Bev Van Noort, George & Betty Weenink
Slidell, LA (10/24/09 – 11/14/09)
Disaster: Hurricane Katrina, August 2005
Project Managers: Tony & Jennie DeWeerd
On-Site Managers: Denny & Sharon Mulder
Construction Supervisors: Harry & Andrea Klingenberg
Team: Pieter & Miep De Groot, Bill & Mary Dracht, Tom & Char Glass, Renze & May de Groot, John & Jo Orange, Ivan & Susan Imig, Terry Berkompas, Katie Haan
Needs Assessment
Cobb County, Georgia (11/7/09 – 11/21/09)
Disaster: Flooding, September 2009
Regional Managers: Fred & Mary Visser
NA Leaders: Garry & Lynne Den Besten
Team: Ron & Dena Baker, Les & Nancy Kragt, Larry & Carla Van Tongeren, Gene & Phyllis Laninga, Larry & Evelina Joldersma, Doug & Judy Hoezee, Morris & Alice Greidanus, Bruce & Betty Matthews, Duwayne & Carole Heilman
Volunteer Opportunities
Listed below are volunteer opportunities. If you are able to volunteer please give Becky a call at 1-800-848-5818.
Kenner: 3/13 – 4/3
4/3 – 4/24
4/24 – 5/14
Slidell: 3/20-4/10
4/10 – 5/1
Work Groups
If you are wondering where you can volunteer for a week (or less, or more) at any time during the year, DRS has many opportunities for individuals, groups or families. Click here for the Groups brochure.
1. Northerly Locations - There are a number of northern locations that are urgently looking for help before winter arrives (some will have volunteers working throughout the winter too):
- North Dakota - Spring floods impacted a huge portion of eastern ND, and a July tornado in Dickinson left much work to be done. DRS is sending work groups in an urgent effort to finish exterior work before winter sets in.
- Northwest Indiana (a 3-county area including Munster and Gary), where severe flooding last fall left thousands of homes in need of both gutting and rebuilding. The area is about 2-1/2 hours from Grand Rapids and less than 1 hour from Chicago. Free accommodations in the Munster CRC, kitchen and showers available. There is an urgent need for gutting, and also for more skilled volunteers to do drywalling, trim, floors, painting, etc.
- Other locations in Indiana: Terra Haute, Monticello, Martinsville--all a short day's drive from most midwestern locations. All in need of rebuilding crews, in some cases to build new homes that were destroyed by floods. Accommodations provided and a means for meals and showers.
- Iowa update: Cedar Rapids and Waterloo continue to rebuild from last summer’s floods. As always with these projects we support, accommodations, meals and showers are available...details vary by location.
2. Katrina area (Mississippi, Louisiana): Yes, a dozen or more partners continue to ask us for help from our greenshirted volunteers. If you're thinking about a warmer location this fall/winter/spring, we'd be happy to tell you about some options.
3. Rita/Ike area (SE Texas): Hurricane Ike devasted Galveston and parts of Houston. We're partnering with some great organizations there that are doing both cleanup and rebuilding, and will be doing so for several years.
4. For those out west: Recovery from fires in Southern California and floods in Oregon presents opportunities for volunteer groups to make a difference!
5. THINK SPRING [break]! In recent years, dozens of youth groups, college groups, and family groups have experienced how memorable, meaningful, and fun spring break can be when it involves serving with DRS. Click here for more information and resource materials. Sign up early, as this is our busiest time of the year!
If you feel led to respond to one or more of these needs and opportunities, please be in touch with either Art Opperwall (aopperwall@crwrc.org) or Torey Kittleson (tkittleson@crwrc.org, 1-800-848-5818). We hope to hear from you, whether you have interest in serving somewhere soon, or if you're thinking many months down the road.