Clear Lakers lend a hand to clean up derecho devastation

(Above) Courtney Doughan was one of the volunteers on Zion Lutheran Church’s clean-up team that traveled to Cedar Rapids.  -Submitted photo

by Michelle Watson

Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, felt called to help with the clean-up efforts from the derecho storm that hit Iowa on Monday, Aug. 10.  The church sent different groups to Cedar Rapids to partner with Eight Days of Hope last week in efforts to clean-up debris that is littering the city.

The groups helped clean debris, brush and remove trees from yards and homes.

Because of their service, the Lutheran Churches in Mission for Christ (LCMC) granted Zion $1,000 per person (up to $10,000) that served in the disaster clean-up.  The church was happy to announce that at least 10 people served in the effort and the church was awarded $10,000.  Zion plans on donating the $10,000 to Eight Days of Hope for continued work in Cedar Rapids.

“I had a friend from Cedar Rapids that came to stay with me, because she had no electricity,” said Megan Dennis, Missions Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church.  “I also attended college in Cedar Rapids, so this all hit home for me and I wanted to do something to help the area.”

Dennis, who organized the outreach, looked into partnering with Eight Days of Hope under the recommendation of former Zion head pastor, Dean Hess.

“Eight Days of Hope was wonderful

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to work with and was extremely organized,” said Derek Crawford, Youth Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church.  “I thought it was a very safe and meaningful way to contribute.  I would like to invite and encourage everyone to serve, there are jobs for everyone.  Loving our neighbors is the call of all Christians, we have friends in need!”

“I was amazed by the volume and consistency of the damage throughout the entire city,” said Kilah Watson, one of the volunteers.  “If anyone is interested in helping, I would absolutely recommend making the trip.  It was wonderful to see people coming together and helping their neighbors.  Eight Days of Hope connected volunteers from across the Midwest with those in need in Cedar Rapids.  It was a joy to be able to help and contribute to a larger cause.”

“Pictures do not do justice to the damage in Cedar Rapids, it was a mess down there.  I had no clue what I was getting into the first day, but I am so glad that I decided to go.  I went back and served two additional days,” said Crawford.

For anyone still interested in volunteering, choose any day that works best and register through Eight Days of Hope, or check out United Way where there are also a variety of options to fit anyone’s interests.

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