Today is Wednesday, November 7th, 2012; Karen's Korner #2438

The story below was written by Vicki Miner from Manly, Iowa and was published in Monday's Mason City Globe Gazette. All of us have hearts and minds which go out to the people who are victims of Hurricane Sandy. What happened here is on a small scale of what needs to be done totally. But it provides a relief to one group of residents on the East Coast. It is also a subtle reminder of what an individual or several small groups can do, which might be impossible for what any level of government can do in that same amount of time:
 
One step triggers relief effort
 
It always starts with that first step.

A phone call at 9:31 a.m. Wednesday to a friend of a friend (the director of Orchard Group in New York City) who was coordinating efforts of churches along the East Coast (and some from the Midwest) to gather generators, gasoline, flashlights, batteries, blankets, water and food to distribute where they are needed most — evacuation centers, shelters and housing complexes with high populations of seniors.

At 7:30 a.m. the next day, Hands 4 Hope, a local disaster relief organization, left Mason City with a truck carrying seven generators and 60 gallons of gas.

By 8 a.m. Thursday, a 15-passenger van with the seats removed (donated by Pritchard Auto) sat in the Hy-Vee parking lot ready to accept donations of the listed supplies. It would leave for NYC when full — floor to ceiling.

That was accomplished by 2:30 p.m. because of the generosity of this community. Its driver and passenger were on the road by 3 p.m. They drove straight through and arrived in Manhattan at 10:35 a.m. Friday, just over 49 hours later.

The efforts of many volunteers were needed to accomplish this great feat, but it started with that one person at Mason City Church of Christ who was bold enough to pray big and trust God to accomplish great things. I feel so blessed to be a part of this small but mighty church that steps out in faith, time after time, and sees God do his work through us.


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