The deadly tornadoes that plagued the Deep South in April put first responders and relief volunteers into action.
To date the diocese’s Disaster Preparedness and Relief Team (DPRT) have helped with a response to Covington County, Jackson County, and Lee County through monetary contributions in the form of grants and gift cards. Also, a workday is being planned for Tupelo on May 10th. See the workday article posted today in the news on this website.
“We were fortunate to be able to use some of the money collected at annual council in Natchez to help victims of this series of storms and tornadoes that came through our state,” said the Rev. Deacon Carol Spencer, chair of the DPRT in the diocese.
Spencer said assessments in Madison, Rankin and Winston counties are ongoing. Episcopal clergy and laypersons are helping to get the details that will allow assistance to be targeted.
If you would like to make a donation for tornado relief, make your check payable to the Diocese of Mississippi and write Mississippi Disaster Relief Fund on the memo line. Or you can make a donation on-line.
Spencer took the occasion to remind all parishes and missions to turn in the pink sheets of the disaster preparedness guide.
Filling out the guide and sending the duplicate sheets to the diocesan office help congregations to be ready to respond when disaster strikes. The diocese DPRT uses the information to help put resources to work as well.
Watch for more details on the diocese’s disaster relief effort at www.dioms.org.
The Rev. Scott Lenoir is the editor of the Mississippi Episcopalian.
