Water and cleaning supplies already distributed with additional loads en route
Multiple distribution sites set-up throughout northeast Georgia
10 lives claimed, more than 100 roads closed, damage estimates at $250 million
Contact: Randy L. Jones, Joyce Meyer Ministries, 636-349-0303 ext. 2931, rajones@joycemeyer.org
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 25 /Christian Newswire/ -- Joyce Meyer Ministries, through its Hand of Hope missions group, has partnered with Convoy of Hope (www.convoyofhope.org) to bring immediate short-term assistance and aid to the many families and individuals devastated by the destructive floods that have ravaged much of the northeast Georgia region.
The ministry has already sent an initial truckload of water and cleaning supplies that arrived Wednesday, as well as an on-site support team to the hardest hit area of Toccoa, GA. In addition, already dispatched and en route are three additional loads to Douglasville, GA, two of which will be going to a distribution site at Pray's Hill Baptist Church in Douglasville. The local point site is Chapel On The Hill Church who helped set up the Pray's Hill location. Distribution will begin tomorrow morning (Sat., 9/26) at 9:00 a.m.
Also on Saturday, a fifth load will be delivered to a new distribution site opening at The Pantry, a community food ministry located in downtown Douglasville. These new shipments bring the total number of loads to five -- four to Douglasville and one to Toccoa. All distribution sites are run and staffed by dedicated volunteer teams comprised of local groups who coordinated the distribution of the much-needed drinking water and cleaning supplies.
"Floods can be especially challenging as we are forced to wait for water to recede in areas and people to return to their homes so assistance -- both in supplies, support and service -- can be provided," said David Meyer, CEO, Hand of Hope. "Through our grassroots partnership with Convoy of Hope, we were able to respond quickly by sending an assessment team from their disaster response office to Georgia soon after the flooding began."
Kary Kingsland, Convoy of Hope's vice president of disaster response, emphasizes one of the biggest needs is clean drinking water. "As with all flooding conditions this is a hurry up and wait situation due to inaccessibility, however, Convoy of Hope is being proactive and is sending a tractor-trailer load of bottled water and cleaning supplies to meet the most immediate needs."
There are numerous people who still need help as many have lost everything they own. Throughout the region, boil water orders remain in affect. Compounding their crisis, a large number of them have had to wait for days to return to their homes and are only now in the beginning phases of trying to put the pieces of their lives back together. In addition to our prayers, donations, more supplies, and additional volunteer support are greatly needed.
About Joyce Meyer Ministries
Joyce Meyer Ministries (JMM) is an international nonprofit organization that focuses on reaching people through media with a potential audience of 3 billion people. Impacting lives around the world, through its outreach arm, Hand of Hope, JMM provides life-changing global humanitarian and missions relief. In 2008, JMM provided more than 18 million meals supporting feeding centers in 25 countries and free medical care to over 150,000 people in multiple remote areas. JMM also operates 44 children's homes globally and provides a host of other disaster, missions and humanitarian aid. For more information, please visit www.joycemeyer.org.
About Convoy of Hope
Since 1994, Convoy of Hope, a nonprofit organization, has provided resources to organizations and churches to meet physical and spiritual needs for the purpose of making the community a better place. This is accomplished through domestic and international outreaches, supply lines, and disaster response.
