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| The calm before the storm |
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| Cleaning out memories |
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| OBI volunteers finish helping Cathy |
Tucked back
in Virginia's Chesapeake Bay, Poquoson is normally a warm and tranquil place
to live. Tranquility became chaos when Hurricane Isabel slammed into the
community in September. After the winds died down more than 50 buildings
were condemned and 2,000 damaged, forcing families out of their homes to
spend nights in cars or backyard tents. However, they weren't forgotten.
A caring neighbor contacted Operation Blessing for help.
Poquoson has been home to Angela Costello for most of her life. Thankfully
only suffering minimal property damage herself, the Operation Blessing
volunteer's heart went out to her neighbors who had lost everything to
Hurricane Isabel. Not only did she alert Operation Blessing of the community's
need, but Angela took one week off from her job at the Christian Broadcasting
Network to assist those in need. She expressed, "When it's your own
hometown and you know the people who are crying on the street, it messes
you up."
One of those people was Cathy, a widowed grandmother. Already fighting
an illness and caring for her 3-year-old granddaughter, Cathy had been
sleeping on the porch or her car because the house was unlivable. Water
had risen to four feet in her home. Her refrigerator had floated over
and food and debris covered with sea water and insects left a rancid aroma.
She needed help cleaning!
With the help of other volunteers, Angela removed a life time of memories
from Cathy's little home in six hours. Cathy stood in the yard and cried
as she watched her furniture and carpets being placed in the garbage pile
in her yard. Besides a few dirty clothes, everything was destroyed. The
team cleaned her home and prepared it for the crew that would demolish
the interior and begin again. Despite the heartbreak of loss she was grateful
for the help. Operation Blessing and The Salvation Army also joined forces
to give Cathy and the people of Poquoson critical relief supplies including
water and food. Many children in that area lost everything, even their
school clothes. So we sponsored a school shopping spree for 73 of the
neediest boys and girls, with Angela's help of course! We also gave books
and toys to children throughout the community who had nothing to play
with or keep their attention.
"Operation Blessing was a blessing," commented Angela. "It
was great to be your hands and feet... to take toys and gift cards and
deliver them for you. I was blessed with the first hand response of tears
of joy... or a genuine embrace...quiet a switch from the grief that I
had been seeing."
Thank you Angela and thank you Operation Blessing partners. We couldn't
have responded so quickly to Hurricane Isabel's fury without your help!
Thousands of victims in Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina have received
emergency support during this tragic time.
The job is not done
Your help is still needed! Thousands throughout North Carolina,
Virginia and Maryland still are cleaning their flooded homes, relying
on hot meals from helpful people, and recovering from devastating loses.
Your gift of $50 or more can assist OBI in delivering critical emergency
food and supplies to families recovering from Hurricane Isabel. There’s
no time to waste; the need is still critical.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.
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