For nearly a year, ARDF has been working with church members who are already trained in disaster response and willing to mobilize when the needs become clear. The goal is to build a network of Anglican churches across the country that have teams ready to respond to provide disaster relief.
Because of this preparation, a team of clergy and volunteers across the Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast were ready to quickly respond to the needs. ARDF funds are supporting the recovery work of this team as they fix homes, provide food and other supplies, and host volunteers from outside of the region. These volunteers offer tangible acts of compassion to the communities hardest hit by the storm.
Images from the situation on the ground
OUR PARTNERS
Trinity Anglican’s mobile kitchen.
Loading up supplies donated by NACL at their warehouse in Texas.
The Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast
Churches with trained volunteers are working with churches in affected areas to coordinate a response. Biweekly calls keep everyone connected.
Trinity Anglican, Lafayette, LA
Trinity Anglican is no stranger to disaster relief. In 2020, the parish sent teams to help communities affected by Hurricanes Laura and Delta.
With support from the Joseph Fund for Disaster Relief, Trinity Anglican recently purchased a mobile kitchen. This “food truck” is is now available to help victims of Hurricane Ida.
After hurricane Laura, Trinity Anglican provided food to affected communities for months after the actual event. They are prepared to do so again.
Volunteers are focusing their efforts on the Houma area, a less developed area off of route 90, southwest from New Orleans. This area was especially hard hit by the storm.
North American Lutheran Church (NALC)
The disaster response arm of NALC is coordinating with the Anglican Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast to bring supplies to area churches.
NALC has specifically provided a shower truck which is now parked at Good Shepherd Anglican in Metarie, LA. They have also donated two tractor trailers full of provisions for families.
NALC also contributed mud buckets and flood buckets to Louisiana churches for volunteers to use. These were delivered on Thursday September 2 and have already all been given way.
Good Shepherd Anglican Church and FaithPoint Family Fellowship
Fr. Randall, Fr. Jim and their volunteers are giving away hot meals, up to 500 a day, for local victims of the storm.
They have handed out mud and flood buckets!
They are ready to host volunteers who are able to come help with the rebuilding efforts.
Current needs/activities
The focus for the 2021 Holiday season was to care for the nearly 800 homeless children in three surrounding parishes of New Orleans. Specifically, Trinity Anglican delivered needed supplies - and Christmas presents - to the 78 teen homeless evacuees living in Lafayette Parish.
Now, in 2022, they are ready to receive volunteer work crews. If you have a group from your church willing to come volunteer, let us know and we will put you in touch with folks on the ground.
We will update this page with information as we receive it from our partners on the ground.