Volunteers Collaborate in a Time of Need
Just before Thanksgiving in November 2021, several groups throughout Upper Columbia Conference coordinated together with HopeBuilders, a partnership connecting organizations with young people and adult volunteers to provide resources for victims of natural disasters.
Volunteers came from UCC Adventist Community Services; UCC Pathfinder coordinators; Osburn, Idaho, Pathfinders; Spangle, Washington's Wheatland Coyote Teens and Pathfinders; and the North Pacific Union Disaster Response.
Together, they filled five-gallon buckets with cleaning supplies for flood victims; each bucket provided resources needed after a major natural disaster.
“I believe we packed 225 buckets,” explained Richie Brower, UCC Club Ministries associate director. “The buckets were donated by Lowes stores in Spokane and Spokane Valley. The contents were provided by funds from NPUC Adventist Community Services Disaster Response.”
Patty Marsh, UCC Adventist Community Services and disaster relief director, was pleased with the help and cooperation from so many organizations. “There is great power and impact when organizations and ministries collaborate,” said Marsh.
After spending many hours filling buckets, the volunteers put them in storage for safekeeping. “The buckets were originally packed just before Thanksgiving 2021, in response to the flooding in northwest Washington,” said Brower. “However, another agency met that need so ours waited in the HopeBuilders warehouse in Spangle until another need arose.”
When catastrophic floods hit Montana in June, it left many communities vulnerable. Gabriele Laub, Montana Conference disaster response coordinator, reached out to Larry Mays, NPUC disaster response coordinator, and requested 100 flood buckets.
Mays delivered the flood buckets to Montana Conference and Marsh expressed appreciation for the volunteers who had helped fill them. He said, “Thank you to Richie Brower and Pathfinders, Larry Mays and others who assisted in filling these buckets several months ago in readiness of such a disaster occurring. Through this collaborative effort, resources helped to assist a community in great need.”
For more information about volunteer opportunities through UCC Pathfinders or Adventist Community Services, visit hope-builders.com.
Volunteers pose after filling flood buckets that are packed with cleaning supplies for flood victims.
Credit: Richie Brower
