Volunteers needed for tornado recovery in Eagle Pass

Volunteers Gordon Colson (left) and Jim Sickles from Gruene UMC replace shingles on the roof of a home in Eagle Pass last month. An April 27 tornado had damaged the structure.

 

 

 

By Rachel L. Toalson
Staff Writer
The Interfaith Long-Term Recovery Committee and First UMC, Eagle Pass, are urging Southwest Texas Conference congregations to get involved in Eagle Pass tornado recovery efforts.
The committee of Eagle Pass churches, led by Pastor Harlene Sadler of First UMC, Eagle Pass, and the Rev. Felipe Garcia of Piniel Baptist Church, was formed to help tornado victims.
An April 24 twister destroyed nearly 200 mobile homes and another 16 permanent homes in Maverick County. High winds damaged another 500 homes.
As one of the poorest communities in the region, Eagle Pass needs much “compassion and help,” said Monica Rich, volunteer coordinator for the interfaith group.
“There are families waiting for us to assist them, but we must have volunteers to help them,” Rich said.
Individuals and groups are needed for as long as they can stay—a few days, a week or longer, Rich said. The interfaith committee has arranged for construction supplies, but workers still are needed for roof repairs, painting and drywall repair.
Group facilities are available for lodging, Rich added.
Bulverde and Gruene UMCs have sent volunteers to help with repair efforts, Rich said.
Seventeen youths and 11 adults went from Bulverde, said Associate Pastor Paul Harris. They worked June 10-14 on three projects: a back porch for the educational building at First UMC, Eagle Pass, and two homes in the tornado zone near a damaged elementary school.
“It’s always a very meaningful time for the youths and the adults who have never been,” Harris said. “We had a mixture of veterans and sixth-grade confirmands. The confirmands got to put their affirmation of faith into practice. That was rewarding for us adults to see.
“We went and had prayer in the area around the elementary school. There was a trailer home that had been blown away, where five people were lost. The kids and adults got to see that area. It was quite meaningful.”
Harris said Maverick County still has many needs.
“We were probably on the front end,” he said. “There’s work that can be done for the next six months or so.”
The interfaith committee has encouraged victims to apply for home-repair assistance. Those who qualify will receive volunteer labor on construction repairs, Rich said.
“We have so many families who ‘fell through the cracks’ for assistance,” Rich said. “We want to help them, but we have to have volunteers to help them.”
Financial donations are needed, she added. They can be sent to the Southwest Texas Conference Disaster Response Fund (Advance 2050).
For more information contact First UMC, Eagle Pass, at (830) 773-3208 or the interfaith committee at interfaithcomm@gmail.com.