Columbus Mission to Mandeville, Katrina Relief

9/10/2005 - Brad Hayes

If you are receiving this message it means you are either going down to go on our trip to LA this Sunday or I wanted you to have some of the updated information contained in the attached document. Don't panic if you are going in a later week, I am just sending this to you as an FYI. I am having trouble with one of my computers but I will try to forward a teams and contact list tomorrow. Please read and review.

God has been hard at work and it has been such a blessing to witness Him in action. We have 21 people going to work the week of 9/11 with an additiona 40 signed up across the other 3 weeks.

Your trip will leave this Sunday at 9:00 AM from the Spring Road church. Please do not be late.

Remember you are God's ambassador into an area that has been devastated by dissaster. We love you and appreciate you for your efforts.

We will be praying for you daily as you labor in love for Him who first loved us.

Brad Hayes

In looking back over my letter and notes I forgot one major item. Money ............ we have received approximately $4700 thus far to help support our trips. This is an excellent start and we so appreciate your repsonse however we need to raise the funds to cover the cost of 3 to 6 vehicles to travel approx 2000 miles for the week, run generators, purchase some food and water, and other assundry items not to mention special needs we may run into while there. Please send any moneys made out to Spring Road C of C, 74 south spring road, westerville oh 43081. Please note on the check Katrina funds. Thank you.

Attached Letter:

Katrina Update for 9\11 Team

We currently have all the food items we will need to send with the team for the week. We have an RV, 3 trucks, and a Navigator for transport of our 20 team members. We have one team member meeting us in LA.

We have collected several chainsaws, shovels, trash bags, boxes and tape. I need to update my list on the donors of these items. A couple of churches have drop off supplies for victims they had intended for the evacuees who are no longer coming to Ohio.

Dicks Sporting Goods donated 3 portable showers, 4 cots and two air beds 3 camping stoves, a couple lanterns, and a few other items. Safety Solutions donated a large supply of gloves, glasses, some boots and other items. Wendy’s donated paper goods and many many individuals have donated as well. We got a generator from Sears and we have one on loan. We have hand sanitizer, personal items and other things you may need for your trip.

We could still use the following:

• 10 cots or air mattresses
• Trailers – tow behind- preferably open so we can haul debris with them as well
• Additional RV’s, 5^th wheels, or large campers with air conditioning
• Pickups for this week and the coming weeks – especially the next couple of weeks.

If we can not get more of these items some team members will need to sleep on the church floor on ground under the tents.

The Mandeville church has put out a request for the following items. We don’t necessarily need these for the first week but please take note.

• Industrial size Ice Machine
• Industrial Washer and Dryer
• Lengths of 1 inch rope
• Cots and Mattresses
• Empty Semi trailers for storage for the next couple of months
• 5 gas pressure washers
• Packing tape
• 2-250 gallon holding tanks – on for diesel fuel one for gas
• 100 gallon portable gas container
• 50 generators
• 40 chainsaws
• Lots and lots of workers

If you or a church in your area can help with any of these items we will make sure we can come up with a way to get it down to the church.

Things you need to bring with you:

• Comfortable clothing to work in
• We have 15 pair of hip waders for those going out in the mud, you will need comfortable work shoes
• Personal items
• Money for food while traveling – we will also have lunches packed and prepared for you
• Sunscreen and bug spray
• Bedding that can work on floor, cot or air mattress
• Pillow
• Bandana to cover your face – will work as well or better than masks

The 9\11 team is leaving from 74 S. Spring Road at 9:00 AM on Sunday morning and will make the trip in one day if God is willing for it to be that way. We will have plenty of room on the way down with a little less coming home because we will be leaving the RV.

Please, if you know people who want to volunteer in future weeks have them contact me or send me their name and contact information. We so appreciate your willingness to give of your time, strength, and love. Our God is great and wonderful and we thank you for sharing that with the folks in LA.

If you have other questions please call me at 614-288-5825

Brad Hayes

9/8/2005 Brad Hayes

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Robin, Gary Carmichael, and I have met to discuss a coordinated effort from Central Ohio churches. We have been in touch with a church in that is acting as a command center in the area. They have made contact with emergency management and Red Cross efforts and are trying to facilitate those efforts. Their biggest need is people, let me say it again, THEIR BIGGEST NEED IS PEOPLE!!!!!!

After talking it over with them we have decided to try and coordinate a group of work teams to go down for a week at a time to work with their effort. They are setting their church up to handle and coordinate 300 volunteers; so far they basically have none as they are just getting started. Our goal is to coordinate at least 30 workers to go down for a week at a time over the next 4 weeks. Please check your schedule and see if you can be available. This will meet 10% of their overall goal.

We will be coordinating transportation, food, sleeping arrangements etc. Expect to sponge bath in the church sinks, at least they have fresh clean water and toilet facilities. Sleeping arrangements may be in tents or beds they are trying to get to set up in the church. Basically groups that go have to be self-sufficient, the church is a coordination point with local needs. We are going to do all we can take make this as comfortable as possible but we are unsure of what we will have to take with us at this time.

The first group will leave Sunday from the Church building. We are trying to coordinate a send off at this time.

We are in need of the following:

Callers - we need some people to get on the phone to local business to help us get tools, supplies and other items to go with us.

Vehicles - if you have a truck or a trailer they are in desperate need of these down there. If you can't go but would be willing to let it be used please let us know. We also need a larger vehicle like a moving van or semi to haul items.

Tools - they need rakes and shovels mostly. Generators would also be a big help as the weeks go on an portable power for tools become necessary.

Supplies - garbage bags are heavily needed at this time.

All the above would help but we need you. Ask your employer is they will support you in this work and allow you to go without costing you vacation time.

This process is going to be long and difficult and they are going to need help first in cleaning up the unbelievable mess, then there will be significant demolition work, and then the rebuilding and repairing process. We are committing to put teams together for one month but we would like to continue beyond that so please get back to me if you want to go but can't go until October.

I have agreed to coordinate the work teams and help raise funds. I can be reached at this email address or on Cell phone at 614-288-5825 during the work day or my home phone is best in the evening and weekends at 614-891-6887.

Gary Carmichael is coordinating supplies so if you have rakes, garbage bags, chainsaws, or shovels please call Gary at 740-965-2137.

Robin is coordinating logistics. He is leaving with another group to deliver much needed propane and other supplies tomorrow and will go visit the church we will be working with as well as the other items we will need to take into consideration.

The first work team will leave on September 11, (how appropriate) and will include Robin and Gary for sure. They will return on Saturday the 17th.

The second team will leave on Sunday September 18.

Team 3 will leave on September 25

Team 4 will leave on October 2.

Please check your calendars and sign up to work for a week. The church said all ages are welcome but they can not be responsible for small children ect. It will most likely be best to leave any at home who can not work out in the field for at least 8 to 10 hours.

More will follow as we get it together but we need you praying and checking your schedules now. Lets help make our Christianity active and go help if we can.

Because He loves us,

Brad Hayes

Destination

Contact Information

Telephone: 985-626-8360

FAX: 985-626-8366

Address: Tammany Oaks Church of Christ

P.O. Box 22

Mandeville, LA 70470-0022

Web Site: www.tammanyoaks.org

Office Coordinator: bgilbert@tammanyoaks.org

Minister: tvogt@tammanyoaks.org

Family Minister: edavenport@tammanyoaks.org