"A very big thanks to the volunteers of Service International from St. Louis Family Church
in Chesterfield. You people are awesome. We could never have accomplished what we did
this past weekend without your help."
--Pacific Homeowner in a letter published in the
"Tri-County Journal Online," April 4, 2008
March 22, as floodwaters receded in parts of Franklin and Jefferson Counties in Missouri, Service International volunteers stepped in to help flood victims get back into their homes. Since that day, SI has been sending and coordinating hundreds of volunteers to Pacific, Missouri, and outlying areas. These hard-working men, women, and young people have shoveled mud, cleared debris, removed water-logged furniture and appliances, pulled out ruined carpet and drywall, and comforted weary homeowners.
Since clean-up work began, SI volunteers have donated more than 7000 working hours and completed more than 100 projects. Intensive workdays on recent Saturdays have drawn 200 – 300 volunteers from around the region and have accomplished a great deal.
A particularly poignant story came out of this recent volunteer effort. Peter Desloge and his family live in the Chesterfield Valley, and their home was badly damaged in the Great Flood of 1993 and restored by Service International volunteers. On April 5, Peter went to Pacific to help flood victims there. His son Andrew—who was born in October 1993—volunteered with him.
Service International extends a special thank you to St. Anthony's Medical Center and DePaul Hospital for their gifts of tetanus vaccines worth thousands of dollars. And we are grateful to Dr. Ken Corwin and the other medical professional volunteers who freely gave those injections to protect hundreds of volunteers working in the flooded areas.
Thank you to all the tireless volunteers who helped. So much work has been accomplished in such a short time. Now there are more people in the Midwest who need help. Will you partner with us? Call or email us today!
