Disaster Relief to Greensburg, Kansas

Giving Children Hope responds to tornado devastation in Greensburg

Disasters happen every month of every year around the world. They break our hearts. But there is something special when you hear stories of people pulling together to care for those in need. That is what is happening right now in Greensburg, Kansas.

I just finished talking with Pastor Dwight Dozier who oversees 13 churches as a part of the Assemblies of God denomination in Kansas. Giving Children Hope is partnering with the Assemblies of God Relief Effort to bring relief supplies to the devastated community of Greensburg. We shipped $75,000 worth of food, over the counter medication, blankets, cleaning supplies and first aid supplies to the Kansas Food Bank. The local Assemblies of God Church in Greensburg is pastored by Christa Zapfe who was out of town that night, but she is back in the thick of things and happy to report that 100% of her congregation is accounted for and healthy, albeit traumatized.

Greensburg is a town of approximately 1,400 people in rural Kansas. As Pastor Dwight and I spoke, he informed me that one of the greatest challenges in this relief effort has been the lack of available warehouse space in such a rural area. The food bank where relief supplies are headed is located in Wichita which is over 100 miles from the town of Greensburg.

Pastor Dwight also highlighted the lack of media attention to the outlying area of Greensburg. The tornado that destroyed this town was only one of several that passed through Kansas that night. At least 150 farms outside of the town have been affected in this 4 county area. Most of these families were left without shelter or transport and were miles away from the larger town of Greensburg.

This particular area of Kansas relies heavily on producing wheat. As the wheat is due to be harvested in 6 weeks, it is a particular problem with all of the debris that has been strewn through the wheat fields. Volunteers are needed over the coming weeks to collect the debris out of the acres of fields so that the wheat will be able to be harvested and all will not be lost in this farming community.

I was informed that FEMA is doing a great job in their efforts. The National Guard quickly stepped in and the town is still under Marshall Law with a curfew of 6:00 PM. The Red Cross has set up shelters in the East and West of the town for those that did not have friends or family in neighboring communities with which to stay.

As Pastor Dwight and I spoke, I could hear the heaviness of total destruction in his voice. He informed me that those that have worked in many disasters, even Katrina, have not seen devastation quite like this. Of course, the magnitude is not that of Katrina, but this is a small community that was 100% devastated. The sheer percentage of citizens coming into shelters has been staggering as they have ALL lost their belongings, homes, automobiles and their livelihoods.

As I mentioned, despite these horrific circumstances, there is hope for Greensburg. The townspeople are under-going trauma counseling and cannot even think of how they will begin to rebuild their entire community. And yet, volunteers are being organized to help them in their efforts. Last Tuesday, the first day anyone was allowed back to the area, there were 200 volunteers. Friday brought 50-60 more, Saturday 100, and this Saturday 90 young people from a church youth group in Kansas City are chartering a bus to help in the clean-up process. Despite destruction, hope remains on the horizon. Neighbors bond together in new ways over hot coffee at shelters. New relationships are made as these volunteers come to town to minister to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of strangers who will not stay strangers but will become friends.

At Giving Children Hope, we are always humbled and excited to be a part of the hope amidst the despair. If you would like to be a part of that hope, please consider donating on-line or mailing in a donation. We would love to provide an avenue for you to be a part of the hope that is coming to rural America!