Operation Compassion Continues Re-Supplying Efforts
Two days after the brunt of Super Storm Sandy made landfall on the Eastern Coast, Operation Compassion was busy re-supplying the areas where pre-storm staging had taken place. A week after the storm made landfall, sixteen semi-trucks have been delivered to those areas that were affected and an additional 20 are being staged to re-supply.
In the Tidewater area of Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland, Hope Charitable Services (HCS) is serving as a distribution point receiving semi-trucks of supplies and delivering smaller trucks to the affected area. Because of flooding and damage, box trucks provide easier access to these areas. The Crisfield, Maryland Church of God will receive product for the southern Eastern Shore.
Hope NYC, Jamaica, Queens, New York City, has made available a warehouse with loading docks to serve as a distribution point for New York. From Queens it’s just a short drive in smaller trucks to deliver and re-supply the hardest hit areas. In partnership with God’s Pit Crew (GPC), three semi-trucks have been delivered and three additional trucks are in route to NYC.
On the winter side of this storm, Appalachian Dream Center (ADC) in West Virginia is front and center in the relief effort. Under the direction of Mike Hartwell, ADC is providing product and serving hot meals to those who have been affected. Many areas along the Appalachian mountain region received two to three feet of snow with more falling in some localities.
During this entire relief effort, Operation Compassion could not have carried the complete load. Through strategic partnerships across the country, Operation Compassion is able to direct and participate in the delivery of products, goods, volunteers, heavy equipment, mobile kitchens and many other resources made available.
“Three of those strategic partners are Feed the Children (FTC), Soles4Souls (S4S) and God’s Pit Crew (GPC),” stated Dave Lorency, president of Operation Compassion. “FTC has been a long term partner working with Operation Compassion on many relief efforts from the Hurricane Mitch in 1998, New York City on 9/11 and now with Sandy 2012. Their partnership is invaluable as they direct millions of pounds of food and others supplies through their warehouse across the United States. Even after suffering damage to their New Jersey warehouse, FTC was able to help in the relief effort.”
Lorency provided other statistics as it relates to Operation Compassion’s relief efforts:
– Fourteen relief sites have been established in six states at local churches
– Twenty-three semis (more than 690,000 pounds) of relief goods delivered or enroute to these 14 sites.
– Twenty additional semis (more than 640,000 pounds) are staged and ready to ship
– More than 1.3 million pounds of critical relief goods were made available in five days.
– Partner Agencies, local churches and Church of God chaplains are headed to these disaster sites to assist in meeting critical needs
– A portable kitchen unit (capable of serving 5,000 hot meals a day) is being set up next week at the Lindenhurst Church of God
Soles 4 Souls has been in a partnership for several years with Operation Compassion.
“Many do not understand the value of shoes during a disaster,” Lorency stated. “However, if you only had water logged shoes, a new, dry pair would be appreciated. Through S4S thousands of pairs of shoes will be distributed in the days to come.”
“GPC has partnered with Operation Compassion for many years,” Lorency continued. “Their expertise in clearing and removing debris with their heavy equipment is unparalleled. They have committed to work every storm possible along with their large network of volunteers. GPC is also able to help deliver products and supplies on their way to a disaster relief site.”
Please help Operation Compassion continue re-supplying the relief effort to your neighbors on the east coast by donating financially to Operation Compassion. Every donation will go directly to the disaster relief efforts.
Online Donations:
www.operationcompassion.org (givedirect button)
Mail or call your donations to:
Operation Compassion
114 Stuart Road, NE Suite 370
Cleveland, TN 37312
423.728.3932 Office
423.728.3958 Fax
www.operationcompassion.org
