On Sabbath, June 8, Jefferson City, Missouri, mayor Carrie Tergin stopped by the Iowa-Missouri Camp Meeting in Centralia, Missouri, to express her thanks for recent disaster relief efforts Adventists have undertaken in and around the city.
“On behalf of Jefferson City, we appreciate each and every one of you,” she said. “We will rebuild. We will be stronger.”
Joining her were Jody Dickhaut, the conference’s disaster relief coordinator for Missouri, and Jeremy Redman, pastor of Capital West Christian Church in Jefferson City. CWCC donated space to the city to warehouse disaster relief supplies and serve as the distribution center for community members to receive supplies and resources.
Tornadoes tore through the Jefferson City community on May 22, impacting 729 homes—161 of which were destroyed, with another 235 sustaining major damage. Fortunately no lives were lost.
In addition to the tornado, the area has also been heavily impacted by flooding. Adventist Community Services Disaster Response volunteers, along with other federal, state and local agencies, opened resource centers for impacted residents in the days following the events.
Approximately $8,000 was collected during camp meeting that will be used for disaster relief efforts in the Jefferson City area and other parts of Iowa and Missouri that have been impacted by disasters. The youth department at camp meeting also assembled 250 flood buckets that will be distributed to impacted residents in these areas.
“We’re so grateful for those who have volunteered around our conference,” said Robert Wagley, executive secretary for the conference. He also thanked Mayor Tergin and Pastor Redman for the opportunity to serve together in the Jefferson City community.
For volunteer opportunities or to make a donation for disaster relief efforts in Iowa and Missouri, visit imsda.org/acsdr.
