Horrific Tragedy; Heroic Volunteers
“YOUR PEOPLE WILL VOLUNTEER FREELY IN THE DAY OF YOUR POWER” (Psalm 110:3a).
Last Friday, Dec. 10, horrendous storms ripped through the Midwest. They were especially fierce in Kentucky. Governor Andy Beshear announced today, 12/16/2021, these sobering numbers: 75 known dead; 16 still missing; and around 3,300 people with power. “We are not broken – we are not broken – even when it feels like it. We will – we will – clear this chaos from our towns,” he asserted.
This piece is not about the storm nor the heartache and havoc it caused. This piece is about the generous hearts of Americans who lay down their “things” to voluntarily take up the burden of others.
The storm came unusually late in the season and was unusually strong. One report noted that the tornado touched down and stayed on the ground for over 200 miles. What a swath of destruction and mayhem!
With Christmas only two weeks away, so many families in and around Kentucky are aching for better but are saddle with devastating loss. Our hearts go out to them. I wonder what else might also go out.
I scanned through an update on the KIRO 7 web page and gleaned the following thoughts.
Dan Wirth is executive director of the Red Cross in south Puget Sound. He said this mass casualty response is also a mass care event. He formerly served as response director in Kentucky, and now he is heading back to pitch in. He and 6 other volunteers from the Northwest Red Cross will join roughly 200 volunteers from around the nation. I wonder if they’ll forfeit Christmas with their families here at home.
Boots on the ground do the grunt work of recovery, but hearts and dollars from afar fund their efforts. It is a joint project. Here is what Patrick Quinn, KIRO 7 News recommends. “Right now, financial donations are the quickest and best way to get help to those who need it most – and gives people the flexibility to purchase what they need. You can go to redcross.org to make a donation to disaster relief or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 gift.” Will you help?
For more information, please click here: https://www.kiro7.com/…/loc…/ELUGGJ66XBFSXEF6W4YDBC7M6Q/
Please help,
Rod MacArthur
206.949.0325
rod_macarthur@comcast.net