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Virtual tour of Westminster's volunteer facilities
What is Westminster Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (WPDA)?
WPDA is the hospitality center for volunteer work crews coming to Middle Tennessee from all over the country. Volunteers are housed in our church's facilities; in addition, we provide meals and kitchen facilities. Further, we work with local non-profit organizations active in flood relief to connect volunteers with flood relief work.
How is Westminster Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (WPDA) making a difference in the lives of survivors of the Nashville flood?
In the immediate aftermath of the flood, Westminster members spent about 8,000 hours working on the homes of flood survivors and preparing to open the WPDA site.
Through July 2011, over 900 workers are scheduled to come to Nashville and help flood survivors rebuild their homes through Westminster Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (WPDA). WPDA volunteers have worked on homes in Bellevue, Antioch, north Nashville, Madison, Franklin, west Nashville, east Nashville, Old Hickory, Kingston Springs, Leiper's Fork, Ashland City and Chapmansboro. Volunteer work crews have come from Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, Missouri, Alabama, Maryland, Indiana, Michigan, Georgia, Kentucky, Florida, and of course, Tennessee.
God is present as flood survivors work to deconstruct their homes and then rebuild again. God is present in the hands, feet, sweat, and tears of the volunteer work crews who have been a part of WPDA. God is present in the lasting relationships that have formed between flood survivors, WPDA work crews, and Westminster members. Finally, God is present in Nashville, where we have seen example after example of neighbors helping neighbors. Our congregation is truly privileged to be a part Nashville's continued recovery from the flood, and we hope and pray that God will work through us to aid flood survivors.
Are you interested in bringing a group to do flood relief work in Nashville?
Contact Ashley Gill at the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Call Center. Ashley schedules the groups that will be staying at Westminster and will give you all of the preliminary information that you need.
Ashley Gill can be reached by phone at (866) 732-6121 (toll-free) or by email at pda.callcenter@pcusa.org.
Westminster Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (WPDA) Update:
Many flood survivors in our own community still need our help! WPDA has committed to walk with over 90 families as they traverse the rebuilding process and prepare to move back home. As part of this commitment to work with families who were affected by the flood, WPDA has hosted/ will host over 900 volunteers from January to July 2011.
In addition to assisting homeowners in the rebuilding process and hosting flood relief volunteers from all across the country, Westminster will sponsor our own 2011 flood relief work opportunities for church members and guests.
Please call or email the church office (292-5526 or lisa@nashvillewpc.org) and volunteer for our flood relief service teams. In an effort to involve more young families, Sophie Maness, Director of Christian Education, is arranging childcare for those who need it. Make sure to let Lisa in the church office know if you need childcare.
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