During the past several days Courtney and I have been incredibly moved by the outpouring of support from many of you. Your questions, prayers and concerns have meant a lot to us. We want to send this e-mail to you to update you on the Matthew 25 Ministry Hub flood damage and to let you know ways you can help the people of the Taylor Neighborhood.
First, the damage. As you can imagine, probably 70% of the Taylor Neighborhood was underwater last weekend. Included in this were nearly all the helping agencies in the area. Taylor Elementary had three feet of water inside. Matthew 25 was completely filled with water. Fortunately, we had moved many items up one level. However, even that level had water three inches deep, just enough to seep into many of our computers. The main area where Matthew 25 was housed is similar to other pictures you have seen. Doors are swollen shut. Large sheets of paint are falling off the ceiling and walls. Mud coats everything. At this point, we are unsure of how salvageable the space is, but we are in conversations with Trinity about cleaning, rehabilitation and forward momentum in the ministry. Beyond Matthew 25, Courtney's house also had water half way up the first floor.
In the midst of this, we believe the Matthew 25 Ministry Hub is now more important to the people of the Taylor Community than ever before. Already, we are working at ways to support people as they rebuild their lives. Thanks to the generosity of Sharon UMC we have new space for offices and programming. This space is located just south of the Taylor Neighborhood, in Sharon UMC on the corner of 18th Ave. and 9th St. Our phone number, 362-2214 remains the same and our e-mail addresses of clint@hub25.org and courtney@hub25.org continue to work. Truly, in the midst of this storm, Matthew 25 is blessed. Our goal is to be a blessing to others and to help reweave some of the community connections that have been ripped apart by this flood.
Many of you have asked us about ways you can help the neighborhood and Matthew 25. We appreciate your patience as we figure out how best to be in ministry. Here are our thoughts on how all of us can best put our faith into action at the present time.
Neighborhood Meals Program- This is the free lunch program served at Matthew 25. These meals provide a great gathering place for those in the Taylor community and we believe it is important to continue these now, more than ever. In order to do this we need your help.
Needed are:
- Volunteers to help with meals and children's activities from 11:30am-1:30pm
- People willing to transport food from Echo Hill Presbyterian in Northeast Cedar Rapids to Sharon UMC between 11:15am-12pm
- Donations of paper plates, napkins, silverware and cups to serve meals upon
- Loving Our Neighbors Teams- Initially, these teams will travel the Taylor Neighborhood in teams of 2-3. They will drive through the neighborhood with water, snacks, hand wipes, information packets and listening sheets, asking our neighbors how we can best support them. These teams will be sent out from Sharon UMC at 9:30am and 1:00pm Monday-Friday.
- E-mail us or call if you want to be a part of these teams in one of the following ways.
- People willing to attend training sessions and be on these teams (some of whom can drive)
- Lead volunteers to act as coordinators for these teams: Donations of Home Made Cookies, eight to a package in ziploc bags, Hand wipes and sanitizer
Clean-Up Teams- We are going to need volunteers that are able and willing to help clean-up churches, agencies and houses in the Taylor Neighborhood. In the next few days we will need some volunteers with trucks to help wipe down and transport items to our temporary location. Matthew 25, Trinity UMC and Courtney specifically are in need of loaned generators, power washers and wet vacs. Contact Clint at 270-3113 if interested in helping specifically with Matthew 25.
If you are able to lend any skills towards helping others clean up, please contact Melisa Bracht-Wagner at 480-4469 and let her know you are interested in helping anywhere, but especially in the Taylor Neighborhood.
Finally, Matthew 25 is helping to organize and lend support to a neighborhood meeting for Taylor residents that will take place on Saturday, June 20th at 2pm at Jefferson High School. If any pastors are available to provide for potential pastoral care needs following this meeting, please let Clint know.
Our hope is that these items give everyone who is feeling called an opportunity to be the hands and feet of God in the midst of this tragedy. People are hurting and we pray that we can be present to them. Thanks for all your prayers and support.
God's Peace,
Clint Twedt-Ball and Courtney Ball
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