Susquehanna Conference Disaster Response

Volunteer Opportunity for Hurricane Ida Recovery Efforts  Dear VIM Teams,  We are reaching out to inform you that the Eastern PA Conference is in urgent need of volunteers for recovery efforts following Hurricane Ida (August, 2021). This is a critical time for our community, and your support can make a significant difference.  Currently, there is great flexibility regarding availability, allowing you and your team to contribute as your schedules permit. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Denise F. Shelton directly. She will assist with coordination and paperwork to ensure a smooth process.  It is important to remember that, even though significant time has passed since Hurricane Ida, many survivors are still in the rebuilding phase. Recent reductions in volunteer support due to America Corps cuts have further highlighted the need for help. Together, we can make an impact and serve our community in this time of need.  Please reach out to Denise...

VIM Trip to Asheville, NC Psalm 46 1-2 reads, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Here we are eight months after Hurricane Helene and there is so much devastation still left from the hurricane, but the Lord is near the brokenhearted and saving the spirits through this devastation. A group from Mt. Calvary UMC (Harrisburg, PA - River Valley District) and Faith UMC (Bellefonte - Mountain Valley District) are just returning from a Volunteer in Missions trip to Asheville, NC. As they worked to help the survivors rebuild they saw many things that showed them that this area is still in need of help. As you drive through, there are vehicles that were once functioning that are now junk cars. Many of the businesses that were once thriving are now no more. One homeowner had many raised garden beds, a B&B cabin, a hot tub, green grass, and it is all now wiped away from the storm. This particular family had to climb up the mountain to escape the ragin...

 May 1, 2025 - Six months after Hurricane Helene struck Augusta, Georgia, signs of the storm’s wrath were still everywhere – toppled trees, damaged homes, broken hearts. But in late March, a team of eight volunteers from the Susquehanna and Upper New York Conferences showed up with chainsaws, prayer, and a quiet but steady determination to serve.   For one week, these faithful responders – a mix of trained Early Response Team (ERT) members and first-time volunteers – brought more than tools and skills. They brought presence. They brought hope. And they brought the deep, Spirit-led conviction that no one should face recovery alone.   Their anchor project quickly became what they called the “model house.” Fourteen massive trees had fallen on the property, including one that crashed through the roof. With rain pouring in, the home had to be stripped to the studs. The team threw themselves into the work – clearing debris, replacing floors, mudding drywall, and eve...