by SARAH THOMACK
St. Joseph Post
The United Way of Greater St. Joseph is helping get information out on how volunteers can help with flood recovery and about resources for residents affected by the flooding.
United Way President Kylee Strough says this week, shower and laundry trailers were set up at Lake Contrary School.
“We know that for the last week or two some people have been having to use laundromats or take cold showers because their water heater was destroyed through the flood, things like that. So we hope this helps some families with their recovery,” Strough says.
Residents can visit the trailers between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to shower and drop their laundry off anytime between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Strough says they've also been hearing from a lot of people wanting to help flood victims, but are not sure how. Strough says there are multiple ways to volunteer from mucking out houses to serving food.
“There’s something for every skill level and every energy level and if volunteering is not a way that fits into your schedule to help, but you still want to do something, we encourage donations to Interserv and their Flood Relief Fund,” Strough says. “The dollars that go to Interserv are being used in a variety of ways to help individuals with those needs that may be unmet when we collaborate with all the rest of the resources in the community.”
Volunteer opportunities include house cleanups, which are being coordinated by Team Rubicon. Clean up starts after a volunteer briefing every morning at 7:30 a.m. at the Civic Arena. Volunteers can enter at the 3rd Street door. They must be at least 18 years old and must wear boots and long pants.
Anyone wanting to help with home rebuilding and repairing can contact St. Joseph Habitat for Humanity at 816-279-2552, ext. 4 to register as a volunteer.
To volunteer to make and/or deliver lunch to residents and volunteers in the flooded zone, contact InterServ at (816) 238-4511, ext. 234 to sign up.
Volunteer this Saturday at The Keys Christian Fellowship, Foursquare Church as food, cleaning supplies, building materials and more are distributed. Message The Keys Christian Fellowship on Facebook to register as a volunteer.
For more information on volunteer opportunities, visit stjosephunitedway.org or find the United Way of Greater St. Joseph on Facebook or Twitter.