CBF Cleanup Bucket Kits
Inspired by cleanup kits promoted by disaster response agencies such as UMCOR (United Methodists) and Church World Service in response to floods and other disasters, Disaster Response is now inviting CBF churches to engage in a similar initiative. Where CBF Disaster Response and its state/regional partners are involved in disaster recovery and Cleanup Bucket Kit involvement is requested, we invite the involvement of churches and CBF state/regional organizations to prepare these kits for delivery to specific recovery sites in coordination with the assigned Local Response Contractor.
Hurricane Ian Response
On September 28,2022, Hurricane Ian, a powerful category 4 storm and the fifth most powerful to impact the mainland U.S., brought widespread devastation to Southwest Florida, taking over 120 lives.
Related to ongoing CBF ministries in the region, the storm destroyed gardens and farms of dozens of Cultivate Abundance partner gardeners, including plots managed by the Cultivate Abundance team. This destruction is a setback for the ongoing efforts of Cultivate Abundance and main partner, Misión Peniel, to address the food insecurity faced by Immokalee’s farmworker community.
Soon after Ian’s landfall, CBF Disaster Response, in partnership with Florida CBF/Caribbean Islands, Cultivate Abundance, and Misión Peniel, engaged in numerous Southwest Florida neighborhoods and communities. Efforts included property and garden cleanup, tarping a roof, and distributing 120 Cleanup Bucket Kits prepared by CBF churches and delivered by CBF Disaster Response.
Planned long-term recovery efforts spearheaded by CBF Disaster Response, CBF Florida/Caribbean Islands and Cultivate Abundance include:
- Minor repairs to the Misión Peniel roof as well as to Cultivate Abundance staff properties in Immokalee along with assistance towards preparing Cultivate Abundance gardens for maximum production (low to moderate skilled recovery volunteers needed).
- Both one-day and multi-day teams will help at least two CA partner farms (i.e., 12 Seasons Farm, East Fork Farm, ECHO) with cleanup and recovery efforts (low to high skilled recovery volunteers needed).
- Based on CBF congregational availability and unmet needs, possible recovery efforts could take place in underserved neighborhoods in Arcadia or Ft. Myers (low to high skill recover volunteers needed).
Hurricane Fiona Response
Hurricane Fiona is ongoing and continues to devastate Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic with torrential rains, flooding, power outages, and high-velocity winds.
Amid this disaster, Paul Baxley, Executive Coordinator of CBF, urged Cooperative Baptists to “join in prayer for all those in the wake of Hurricane Fiona, particularly our partner congregations in Puerto Rico. Five years ago, Hurricane Maria devastated that island, and now another storm has struck that island.” Baxley called the network to “prayerfully consider giving so that we can offer needed relief in the days ahead.”
Tammy Snyder, Executive Coordinator of CBF Florida and Caribbean Islands, stated, “Our prayers for our Familia are for comfort and healing as they access their losses and begin to pull their communities, homes, and lives back together. She added, “May God sustain them through this present disaster and throughout the restoration and rebuilding. CBF Florida and Caribbean Islands commit to being present for you in every way.”
Xiomara Reboyras, a CBF pastor in Deltona, FL and a native of Puerto Rico, provided this heartfelt update.
“Our Comunidad Cristiana Nuevo Pacto in DeLand works and supports a Missionary house and pre-school in Sabana de la Mar in the Dominican Republic (Hogar Arcoiris). They are under Hurricane Fiona since last night. We have one bathroom and three rooms that are bedrooms and classrooms as needed. Since last night we have been receiving families from the community seeking shelter from the hurricane.
At 5 am, we already had 20 people, including children. We have pregnant women and elderly people. The winds and rain are stronger than in Puerto Rico because it landed as a category 2. The house was not ready for this many people, but we will do all we can to ensure people are safe. This community lives in shacks.
This morning they were served spaghetti for breakfast because it was a long night. In our congregation, we have already started the conversation to help in any possible way, but I know we will need help from our bigger family. Please keep Sabana de la Mar and Hogar Arcoiris in your prayers. They have a long day ahead before recovery starts.”
As we continue to monitor the effects of this storm, this is an urgent appeal to join our disaster response efforts with a donation to CBF Disaster Response Hurricane Relief. GIVE TO CBF DISASTER RESPONSE HURRICANE RELIEF and RECOVERY.
Flood Response
Flooding has devastated many communities in several states in 2022. CBF states and regions alongside Together For Hope are currently identifying areas to deliver clean-up flood buckets to waiting families.
But you can help today and join our efforts by donating financial gifts to CBF Disaster Response here. We are so thankful for your financial blessings, which help us provide long-term disaster response, relief and recovery to underserved communities that have experienced a disaster. Please give today!
LEARN
CBF Disaster Response exists to equip Christians and churches to serve communities affected by disaster. Learn more about the 4 stages of preparedness.Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CBF Domestic Disaster Response is not currently recruiting volunteer teams to assist with recovery efforts. When the overall health situation improves to the extent that volunteer teams and local hosts can safely travel and interact, we plan to resume recruitment activities for these locations.
Contingency plans
Even with the persistence of COVID-19, CBF anticipates that some degree of response will be needed. Whether related to ongoing recovery work or engagement in new emergencies, CBF will make every effort to minimize opportunities for COVID-19 to spread due to our disaster response efforts through the following protocols:
- Vetting volunteers based on health and minimizing/modifying travel to response sites as well as carrying out on-site symptom checks and social distancing.
- Prioritizing CBF’s grassroots response strategy by which disaster-affected CBF congregations and/or local partner agencies, and their CBF state/regional organizations, decide whether or not to engage; either with or without direct CBF Disaster Response involvement.
- Following FEMA/CDC guidelines to minimize the spread of COVID-19 at recovery sites by safe distancing, use of face masks, and disinfecting.
Donations in support of ongoing hurricane recovery efforts can be made here.
CBF Disaster Response does not accept food, water or material donations.
If you prefer, you may also give by mailing a check payable to “CBF” to:
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
PO Box 102972
Atlanta, GA 30368-2972
*be sure to include “Hurricane Response” or “Tornado Response” in the memo line
For more information about overall CBF Domestic Disaster Response activities, contact Daynette Snead Perez at dr@cbf.net
About CBF Disaster Response
CBF Disaster Response exists to equip Christians and churches to serve communities affected by disaster.
Effective response during a time of crisis is vital. CBF is dedicated to following a response cycle that begins with readiness. Following disaster events, as requested by local, state and/or regional partners, we offer appropriate relief and recovery efforts, particularly among the vulnerable and underserved. Ultimately, we seek to improve the resilience of recovering communities.
1. READINESS
2. RELIEF
3. RECOVERY
4. RESILIENCE
Volunteer with CBF Disaster Response
In keeping with CBF’s focus on long-term impact, CBF disaster response participates in networks seeking to help communities after a devastating event, but employs most of its resources on the long-term recovery, rehabilitation and resiliency of a community after first-responders have finished their work. This takes time and planning.
CBF will work with state and regional organizations, the federal emergency management agency, the national voluntary organizations active in disasters (VOAD), as well as other local and national partners, including friends in the North American Baptist Fellowship, in any response.
THREE WAYS YOU CAN HELP:
Pray
Please pray for families who have lost everything they own and first-responders who are giving everything they have to save lives. Pray for communities as they cope and as they heal.
Give
We ask that churches and individuals provide financial support so that funds can be used locally to respond in the most effective way to meet needs. Please consider a gift to the CBF Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund here. CBF is not accepting donations of items as we have learned from experience that it is much more efficient and cost-effective to provide funds that allow Disaster Response personnel to procure supplies as needed.
Volunteer
AVAILABLE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
CBF is grateful for those wishing to serve in communities after a devastating event. Before applying to serve, please take a moment to review the available opportunities for service and consider where your gifts or the gifts of your team can best match a need on the ground. As additional specific opportunities to serve become available, we will update this site with information. Please check back regularly to find new opportunities of service that might match your gifts and availability.
Supplemental Insurance - If your insurance does not cover where you are going or what you are doing for your Disaster Response volunteering, we recommend you purchase this supplemental insurance:
Domestic: http://missionshield.com/policies/
International: http://www.fellowshiptravel.org
Pray
- Please pray for CBF’s recovery partners, the National Baptist Convention of American, and their congregations in the vicinity of Lake Charles, Louisiana as recovery efforts continue in the aftermath of Hurricane’s Laura and Delta.
- We pray for Western North Carolina communities in recovery following Hurricane Fred and all communities affected by Hurricane Ida.
- We pray for Alan Williams, CBF Disaster Response Specialist who continues to coordinate equipment and supplies for disaster affected communities.
- We give thanks for the planned spiritual care ministry for area pastors who are serving congregations recovering from post-disaster stress; especially for the involvement of Rev. Dr. Daynette Snead Perez (CBF Domestic Disaster Response Manager) and Renée Owen (CBF Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling Ministries Director & Endorser)
- We ask God’s blessings on the new CBF Cleanup Bucket Kit initiative.
- We give thanks for congregations and individuals who have provided prayer and financial support for CBF Disaster Response ministries.
