Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
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Stories of Hope

Featured Story

Two men work a saw
Cincinnati Presbytery continues to serve in hurricane recovery. Read their story.

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus ..." – Colossians 3:17

Responding to people in need is a very natural way of showing Christian love. Volunteers with many talents and abilities provide valuable assistance to a community affected by a disaster. The work of volunteers — putting their faith and love into action — helps turn the chaos of disaster into an image of hope.

This page includes stories from volunteers that have served in disaster response and stories from disaster survivors who have been touched by those volunteers. Each story is a witness to God’s transformational power.

 
     
 
 

Stories of Hope by region

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1. Northeast

So much to do in Hanover, West Virginia – thankful for the promise of help on the way, June 2009

We all are one in mission, West Virginia, June 2009

West Virginia volunteers help provide a brighter day for Montgomery family, March 2009

Temple University students assist West Virginia ministry with community clothes closet, March 2009

The Guinston Gutters volunteer work team from Airville, Pennsylvania, makes multiple trips to Louisiana, January 2009

From Doubt to Belief – West Virginia couple sees the Church in action, December 2008

From Disaster to Hope – West Virginia couple face the winter warm and dry thanks to WVMAW volunteers, December 2008

From Coffee Grounds to Feeding the Hungry – West Virginia volunteers help one homeowner, but the benefit will be for many, December 2008

Help is on the Way, First Presbyterian Church of Jamaica, New York, serves in New Orleans, July 2008

First Presbyterian Church in Ogdensburg, New York, team will serve in Mississippi in May 2008

Brunswick Church of Troy, New York, team returned to Pearlington, Mississippi, April 2008

Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church of Gaithersburg, Maryland, makes another trip to the Gulf, March 2008

Team from Bedford Presbyterian Church, Bedford, New Hampshire, returns to Louisiana, February 2008

United College Ministries in Northern Virginia (UCMNV) teams serve in Pearlington, Mississippi, 2008

Loaves and Fishes and Conversations in a Truck - lessons learned while leading a group from Cabrini College on mission in West Virginia, 2007

Brunswick Church of Troy, New York, raises funds to send returning volunteer work team to Pearlington, Mississippi, September 2007

Teams from St. Andrews Presbyterian Church of Kilmarnock, Virginia, make three trips to the gulf and build a shower trailer for Presbyterian Volunteer Villages, 2006 - 2008

MIT School of Architecture and Planning, Cambridge, Massachusetts, builds sustainable housing in Houma, Louisiana, July 2006 PDF icon

First Presbyterian Church of Virginia Beach, Virginia, team serves in Biloxi and D'Iberville, July 2006

A Volunteer's Journal from an MIT volunteer who served in Houma, Louisiana, July 2006 PDF icon

First Presbyterian Church of Wappingers Falls, New York, serves in Gulfport, Mississippi, June 2006

West Side Presbyterian Church, Ridgewood, New Jersey, connects with other churches to send team to New Orleans, January 2006

First Presbyterian Church of Richmond, Virginia, sends a team to the PDA Volunteer Village in D'Iberville, Mississippi, January 2006

Members of Monmouth Presbytery go to D’Iberville, Mississippi, October 2005

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2. Southeast

Cary Presbyterian Church of Cary, North Carolina, journies to Gautier, Mississippi, October, 2007 PDF icon

First Presbyterian Church of Hickory, North Carolina, serves in Gulfport, Mississippi, October 2006

First Presbyterian Church of Greenville, North Carolina, serves in New Orleans, August 2006

Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church of Rock Hill, South Carolina, sends teams to serve in D'Iberville, Mississippi, October 2005

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3. Midwest

A Gulf Coast vacation - The United Presbyterian Church of Washington, Iowa, serves in Louisiana, April 2009

Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, Missouri, team completes fourth disaster recovery trip to Houma, Louisiana, March 2009
Read about Ladue Chapel's March 2007 trip to Louisiana.

Cincinnati Presbyterians Provide Hurricane Disaster Relief Again and Again, 2009

Main Street Presbyterian Church of Petersburg, Indiana, goes to New Orleans, July 2008

United Church of Big Rapids, Michigan, returns to Pearlington, Mississippi, March 2008

Dayton Memorial Presbyterian Church team on mission in Houma, Louisiana, October 2007

First Presbyterian Church of Charleston, Illinois, team serves in Pearlington, Mississippi, September 2007

First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood, Missouri, volunteer work team serves in D'Iberville, Mississippi, April 2006

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4. Southern

Presbyterian Community Outreach of Slidell, Louisiana, is working to rebuild the New Orleans area, accepting and housing volunteer groups free of charge to do home repair and other types of assistance for low income families and elderly persons in the Slidell area hit by storms, 2009

First Presbyterian Church of New Orleans opens newly refurbished child development program, January 2006

5. Heartland

Oahe Presbyterian Church mission, Pierre, South Dakota, team serves in New Orleans, May 2007

First Presbyterian Church of Lincoln, Nebraska, serves in Houma, Louisiana, April 2007

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6. Northwest

Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church of Puyallup, Washington, continues to serve in the Gulf Coast, April 2009

College student from Portland, Oregon, reflects on her recurring involvement with the gulf coast rebuilding efforts, March 2008

Overlake Park Presbyterian Church of Bellevue, Washington, volunteers make a third trip to serve in D’Iberville, Mississippi, 2008

First Presbyterian Church of Boise, Idaho, volunteer shares about their work time in the Gulf, April 2007

Member of First Presbyterian Church of Portland, Oregon, reflects on her work through the Luling, Louisiana, PDA Volunteer Village, April 2006

Volunteer from First Presbyterian Church, Newhall, California, shares reflections from her mission trip to Biloxi, Mississippi, March 2006

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7. Southwest

Toy Sale Sunday at Christ Presbyterian Church in Tucson, Arizona, July 2008

 
             
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