Volunteers return from Katrina cleanup

Volunteers from First UMC, McAllen, and the Methodist Church of Mexico returned this week from hurricane cleanup work in New Orleans.
The teams worked Jan. 3 to 8 and 6 to 11 to gut houses damaged Aug. 29 by Hurricane Katrina and remove furniture. The work was done in conjunction with First Street UMC and El Mesias UMC in New Orleans.
The volunteer workforce included 22 members of First UMC, McAllen, and eight Mexican Methodists.
Susan Hellums, Southwest Texas Conference Volunteers in Mission coordinator, said recovery efforts would be ongoing along the Gulf Coast for several years.
Katrina affected areas from Florida to Louisiana. Hurricane Rita hit Texas and Louisiana in September.
Northern Mexico needs volunteers to rebuild homes destroyed in July by Hurricane Emily and Tropical Storm Gert.
Florida is still recovering from four hurricanes and one tropical storm in 2004 as well as Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma in 2005.
Alabama was still rebuilding from Hurricanes Dennis in July and Ivan in 2004 when Katrina slammed into the area in August.
Recovery teams wanting to know when and where they can be of use in the United States should call the storm recovery center for each affected conference, Hellums said.
“If there’s a work team from your church going, please let me know,” she said. Hellums is tracking all Southwest Texas Conference disaster response.
Crews wishing to go to Mexico should contact Hellums. She can be reached at (956) 661-9771 or shellums@mcfirst.com.