Update on Augusta and Call for Volunteers

Dear Friends,

Last Friday, a team of volunteers from First Presbyterian Church of Athens traveled to Augusta to help with cleanup after Hurricane Helene damaged large parts of the city. Our group delivered bottled water and supplies to the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Augusta, and then set to work cutting and clearing storm debris at numerous homes. We also helped remove the remains of an enormous pecan tree that had fallen across the front door of GAP Ministries in downtown Augusta. We were joined by members of the Covenant Presbyterian Church, Athens, as well as presbytery staff and a student from The Table (Presbyterian Student Center). Our friends in Augusta told us over and over how much our presence for those few hours meant to them. In the words of Rev. Dr. Brandi Casto-Waters, Senior Pastor at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church, “Your folks were a gift to us. A light in the midst of the darkness.”

Since our visit, conditions in Augusta have continued to improve. Power is being restored to more locations, and some parts of the city are beginning to return to normal. However, our sisters and brothers tell us that our help is still needed and welcomed, and so we will take another crew of volunteers this coming Friday, October 11. The list of projects in Augusta is being coordinated Jim McKnight, Elder at the Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church. There will likely be some lighter outdoor debris cleanup, but we may also need to help families pack belongings into storage pods or rental trucks while their homes are being repaired. Volunteers of all ages and abilities are needed and welcomed.

Once again, we will plan to meet at the church at 7:00 a.m. this Friday. If there are enough people, Dr. Baer will drive the church van, and our caravan will plan to arrive in Augusta between 9 and 9:30. We will work until 3:30 or 4:00 p.m. and plan to be back in Athens between 5:30 and 6:30 Friday evening. If you are willing to go, please e-mail ryan@firstpresathens.org so we can alert our friends in Augusta as to how many Athenians are coming.

Each volunteer will need to bring the following items:

• Work gloves

• Eye protection

• Ear protection

• Sunblock

• Enough water and food for yourself for the day
  

Alternative ways to help:

• Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is organizing relief efforts on the ground in the areas of great need and so we encourage anyone wanting to help financially to donate to PDA.

• If you would like to donate items, Oconee Presbyterian Church is serving as a collection site for additional donations. There are critical needs for bottled water and non-perishable food items. OPC’s hours are Monday—Thursday, 8:30 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.