|
-Davis
College Partners with Samaritan's Purse in Disaster Relief
Effort-
September 24, 2006 -- Davis College
has an empty place on its campus next to Patterson Hall,
where a semi truck that helped bring hope and relief to
hurting families was parked for two months. The hearts and
lives of the campus family -- and many people from our
surrounding community -- have been forever impacted by the
ministry of Samaritan's Purse, and the Billy Graham Rapid
Response team of chaplains.
|
Davis College said farewell to the
team from the Samaritan's Purse Disaster Relief Unit
and Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (in front row)
during a special chapel on Friday, September 22nd.
More photos are below. |
 |
On July 25, 2006, President George D. Miller
III announced that the campus would be the staging area and
base of operations for the Samaritan's Purse Disaster Relief
Response Team. The announcement came after the destructive
flooding that occurred in a 9-county area around Binghamton,
from June 26th through June 28th, 2006.
Red Cross estimates claim 941
homes were destroyed, 1300 homes had major damage, and an
additional 2100 homes had minor flooding. As a result,
there was, and is, tremendous need for assistance in our community.
An
assessment was conducted in the Binghamton area by
representatives of Samaritan's Purse United States and
Canada, and also the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team.
Franklin Graham had scheduled the "NYPENN Festival" for June
8-10, 2007 in the Binghamton area. The Executive Committee for
the Festival met with representatives from Samaritan's
Purse, and other key church leaders in the community to
determine if Samaritan's Purse assistance is needed to
provide disaster relief.
As a result of this meeting,
Samaritan's Purse sent a disaster relief unit that
provided an initial response of sixty days,
including volunteers, and chaplains. The campus is grateful for this tremendous outreach
that positively impacted our community, and provide
specialized training for Davis students. The assistance
included cleaning out mud from basements, general cleaning,
tearing up floors, and washing off mold build-up.
The
Samaritan's Purse Disaster Relief Unit,
out of Canada, became a part of the Davis College family. In
the mornings, team members could be found organizing and
equipping local volunteers as they prepared to assist
homeowners recovering from the flood devastation. You may
have noticed them in Klee Dining Hall in the early evening,
sharing a meal together and talking about the day's events.
Or perhaps you saw the "blue shirts", as the Billy Graham
Rapid Response team chaplains are called, seated in the
Broadway Coffee Cafe, sharing their hearts with the students
of the College and praying for the individuals who heard the
gospel that day.
Davis College and our community were greatly
encouraged by this special group of friends, from both
Samaritan's Purse, and the Billy Graham Rapid Response team
of chaplains. Volunteers from local churches were also a
tremendous help in coordinating services, and meals for the
team, as disaster relief was provided to over nine counties
affected by the June 2006 flooding. Special thanks
goes out to
WINR AM 680 and the
"Crowley Morning
Show" with Don Giovanni,
and the
Family Life Network, for
their broadcasts that helped spread the word to people
in need, and to volunteers.
| The
core team members were (from left) Wanda Burchert,
Claus Burchert, Scott, Jason, Jack and Becca
Dowling, and Nick Costello (not pictured). |
 |
|
Rick Cramer (at top of steps), Acting VP for Student
Development, speaking to students and the
Samaritan's Purse team. |
 |
|
Sheila Flipse (Chair of the Counseling Program),
Sharon O'Connor (Administrative Services Assistant),
Wanda Burchert (Samaritan's Purse), Hermione Pickett
(Executive Assistant), and Kelli Perry (Manager of
Broadway Coffee Cafe). |
 |
|
Samaritan's Purse team leader Claus Burchert. |
 |
| On
behalf of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, Jack
Dowling presented Dr. Gilbert Parker, VP for
Academics at Davis College, with a Bible from
Samaritan's Purse for the Alice E. Chatlos Library,
along with books by Billy Graham, Franklin Graham,
Ruth Graham, and Anne Graham Lotz. |
 |
|
Claus Burchert presented the College with a photo
from the campus work day on Monday, September 4,
2006. |
 |
|
Phil Strawn, VP for Business, presented the team
with Davis College shirts. |
 |
|
Rick Cramer, Acting VP for Student Development,
presented team members with copies of Hope Grows
in Winter. |
 |
|
