Letter to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Families need community support

To the Editor:

Dear Friends of the Ministry,

This has been an amazing last week for us. If you have not heard or read, Bloomfield has suffered with multiple tornados and a near record flood.

The pictures can only give a glimpse of the whole picture. The sound of chain saws, power tools, trucks, and sirens filled the air last week. We are grateful that there were no injuries or loss of life during the storms and clean.

Last week was different. Torrential rains fell over the weekend resulting in flash floods in creeks then long-term floods in the rivers. This time sounds were of crying because of loss of personal items even total homes. This is the first time we have had military trucks and soldiers working along side our neighbors and friends. This has been a totally different situation for us.

This flood has affected Family Life Center in a personal way. Beginning Saturday evening we opened our doors to flood victims who were not able to stay with family members. These are people who have lost everything: Clothes, food, furniture, beds, financial papers, meds, scripts for meds, Bibles, books, everything.

We have been able to assist one family (two adults and three little kids) to the point of living own their own. God has been really good about putting all the pieces together for this family.

There are currently two families living with us (four adults and six kids). They too have lost everything. They are talking to the insurance company and mortgage firm for a settlement. Hopefully, they will be able to find homes to rent or purchase in the next few weeks. It will take several weeks before checks are let out to the families with total destruction.

In the meantime, the lucky family members are sleeping on air mattresses in a large common room. The others are sleeping on carpeted floor. They are using a common kitchen and half bath.

It is with this background information that I am asking you for help. I really need a couple things from you.

1) pray for wisdom for the families and for me. We are doing crisis intervention counseling and service. Almost every moment someone is in the office crying due to the trauma and sleeplessness. It just breaks your heart.

2) Immediate supplies, such as food, mainly kid food. But please remember our families are living in close quarters so please keep the sugary foods at a minimum. The women know how to cook from scratch, so they need the basics: eggs, milk, cheese, cooking oils, and dish towels.

They also need paper goods (remember 10 people and a half bath). There is also a need for paper plates, bowls, cups, zip lock bags.

They are OK for clothes since they are living in a "clothing store."

If you could image stepping outside your home with only what you are carrying in an emergency never to return again, then you know what our families have available to them.

The husbands are hard working men. One has been deployed three times in the last four years, he is currently on the list for deployment in January. The other husband worked in Terre Haute but is now unemployed.

With all that said, if you are able to pray for wisdom for the families, and for FLC, I thank you because God hears the prayers of the righteous.

If you able to supply some daily living supplies, please deliver them to FLC.

The furniture, beds, appliances and such can be put into our storage until homes are found.

And if you want to financially donate to their family fund, we will pass those monies on our families.

Finally, if you want to donate financially to our operating expenses, for increased electricity and water usage please note that on your checks as well.

There are so many Jesus stories we can tell you, but the biggest one is that FLC is here because people rise up to help people in need. This is God's outreach to His people; this is your community ministry. This community sticks together. Thank you for helping us.

I love you from the bottom of my heart.

For more information call 384-1639.

Dianne Langer

Bloomfield

Inmate, volunteer says thanks

To the Editor:

To the communities of Graysville, Bloomfield, Elnora, Hazelton, Emison, Lyons, Oaktown, Edwardsport, Duke Energy Power Plant, Greene, Sullivan, and Knox counties, it was our pleasure to assist you during the recent emergency.

Many may find it difficult to believe that the minimum security inmates of Wabash Valley Correctional Facility volunteered to participate. A total of 65 inmates volunteered daily for sandbagging operations. Not because we had to, but because we wanted to do this. Many worked day and night alongside the National Guard, local volunteers, homeowners, farmers, correctional officers, and emergency personnel and we were honored to do so.

We shared in your jubilation when the efforts were successful and in your pain when they were not. Whether working in heat or waist deep in water we were happy to be of help.

And through all of this you were gracious, friendly, and accepting of our help. Your gratitude and kindness were overwhelming in every case. The thank yous we received were more than sufficient and you often went beyond that.

So thank you for allowing us to help. Should you need us again, we will be ready to volunteer.

To the many soldiers we worked beside, we were proud to be a part of a gallant effort to help our neighbors. And thank you to everyone who overlooked where our choices have led us and viewed us only as men willing to help in a crisis. It once again proves that God can work miracles in the darkest of times and in unexpected places.

Brian Singleton

inmate and volunteer

Wabash Valley

Correction Facility

Carlisle

Commissioners appreciate help

To the Editor:

The Commissioners of the McGinnis Levee would like to thank the countless number of individuals and businesses who stepped up to help during the recent flooding situation.

We are very appreciative of the people who came out to help with work on the levee, filled sandbags, provided food, or provided equipment. A special thank you to Belinda Haywood, Greene County Emergency Management assistant, and Basil Shepherd, along with his crew and staff at the Greene County West Side Highway Garage.

Also, thanks to McDonalds, Wendy's Burger King, Linton Subway, Grill on the Hill, Pizza Hut, Casey's General Store, Wal-Mart, Lyons Value Market and others who provided food, drinks, and ice for the volunteers. A huge thanks to the men from the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility and the Indiana National Guard for their assistance. They worked very hard for our community and we appreciated their help.

Due to the work of all the volunteers, we were able to save the levee in Greene County. Although we had a few sections of the levee damaged in Knox County, we have already begun plans to rebuild these areas. Again, thank you for your help and support.

Commissioners

Ralph Harris, Allen Terrell, Randy Koenig, Mark Jones, Brent Hostetter, Glen Apple, J. Yagle, Larry Hancock, Bill Dinkens.