Wednesday

Flood and Tornado Asistance Update

Latest Update: 8/16/2008

Latest Report from IAYM (FUM) Disaster Assistance Fund

Cedar Rapids

Read 8/16/2008 Report from Cedar Rapids
I spoke 7/19/2008 with two Friends near Cedar Rapids, Iowa (the hardest hit of all Iowa cities) who are preparing to go to Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) in two weeks and who hope to formulate plans to help those in need in their community. More will be posted when information is learned about how Friends across the country and around the world might be able to help. However the point most ardently made is that needs are at their highest peak right now and possibly increasing as the damage assessments and home inspections proceed very slowly. Many are out of work and the city of Cedar Rapids has lost tax income and buildings such as a museum which even though were not flooded, are closed due to sewer contamination.


Iowa City
For now, we have news that a Quaker Friend is the Executive Director of the Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity, in Iowa City, IA, and have added its needs and contact information below for donations.

Iowa (General)
We have news of funds received by Iowa Yearly Meeting (FUM) with thanks and the following report from its General Superintendent:
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"I wanted to let you know how this week has gone with the donations for flood relief. With your contacts and the letter that was sent out of our office and circulated throughout FUM we have been receiving funds.
As of today 07/18/08 we have approximately $5,600 in the account (2008 Iowa Disaster Assistance Fund). I have authorized one release to a single mother with four children who lost her washer and dryer in a flooded basement. We will replace the washer and dryer since there is no insurance for her. We have two homes in the Mason City (Riverside Friends), Iowa area that we will send volunteers to help tear out and replace sheet rock sometime in the middle of August.
FEMA has helped with some funds for one of the homes but there isn't any labor available. All the contractors are many months behind at this time.
We have been notified and have received a request to help restore another basement in central Iowa (Bear Creek Friends). It would appear that we can assist with that.

We have some informal requests for cooking utensils, clothes and food. We are encouraging the local Meetings to coordinate these efforts and we can furnish the funds to them. We do plan to offer some assistance to the Mesquakie Friends Center to replace funds they used for food to people that were displaced or received household damage.

Over along the Mississippi near Buffalo Friends we are still awaiting actual damage and replacement information."
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One Friend in New Hampshire has offered to coordinate giving computers to William Penn University, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, in William Penn's attempt to supply books and used computers to be donated to a public high school in Parkersburg, IA. See news story 6/12/2008. The high school had no contents insurance, which was totally destroyed before the flood. The high school is being assisted by William Penn University.

More information will be forthcoming on how these in-kind donations can be made to William Penn University possibly with a truck traveling from east to west. So all the wealthy Quaker schools might consider where your old books and equipment can go.
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Cedar Rapids, Iowa

1. Catherine McAuley Center
attn: Wendy Rodriguez
866 4th Avenue SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52403-2423

(works with immigrants)
Their building is OK, but people they work with live near the river. Friends may donate money or in-kind donations to a Catholic / Quaker charity where one Friend I spoke to volunteers.

(Read more about CMC written by a local Friend)

Read News Articles about CMC

2. Community Health Free Clinic
947 14th AV. SE Cedar Rapids IA 52401Main Telephone: 319-363-0416
(Read testimony by a local Friend about this charity)

- A news story reported 6/27/2008 about home razing in Cedar Rapids.
- A news story reported 6/27/2008 about state and federal funds approved for tornado and flood areas.

3.
Partnership for Safe Families

Partnership for Safe Families
Echo Hill Presbyterian Church
1700 B Avenue
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
(no website)

Iowa City, Iowa
4. Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity
(click above to see flood needs or to donate online)
Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity
2401 Scott Blvd.
Iowa City, IA 52240
Report 7/31/2008
Office Phone: (319) 337-8949

Iowa - General
5. Iowa Yearly Meeting (FUM)
"2008 Iowa Disaster Assistance Fund"
411 College Ave. W.
P.O. Box 657
Oskaloosa, IA 52577
Phone: 001.641.673.9717
Email: iaym ‘at’ mahaska.org
The IAYM office administrator, Mary Thury, said in a recent email:

“This fund would help Quaker Friends in our area with clean-up, property replacement or building work. Any money that would be left in this fund would be directed to our Iowa Friends Disaster Service so that they continue their works.”
If Friends are interested in wiring money from overseas, or have other questions, please call or email Iowa Yearly Meeting
5. Iowa State Education Association
(to assist with 2 schools totally unusable in Cedar Rapids)

ISEA Disaster Relief Effort
777 3rd St
Des Moines IA 50309
http://isea.org

Indiana

6. Friends Disaster Service (Ohio)

c/o Bob and Marge Winn
4609 State Rt. 45, Leetonia, OH 44431
Phone: 001.330.332.2381
Email: bobwinn 'at' copper.net

If Friends are interested in wiring money from overseas, or have other questions, please call or email. Bob Winn told me tonight that they are planning a trip to Noblesville, Indiana within the next two weeks to rebuild homes. The Indiana Friends Disaster Service, already on site at Noblesville has money, but is more geared toward cleanup. Bob Winn rebuilds homes and churches and would be very happy to receive donations to the Friends Disaster Service at the address above.

Kansas

7. Friends Disaster Service - Texas Area

c/o Tom and Kathy Hoke
P.O. Box 1108, League City, TX 77574-1108
Phone: 001.281.332.6631
Email: fdsta 'at' comcast.net

If Friends are interested in wiring money from overseas, or have other questions, please call or email.

In Friendship,
QiN-Hombre