MERCI (Marion Edwards Recovery Center Initiatives)

MERCI is a Warehouse for Disaster Response and Building
Materials and Supplies as well as a Volunteer
TRAINING CENTER.

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Directions to MERCI: From North: I-95 South to Hwy 70 East
(Exit #97)- Hwy 70 East to Hwy 581 South. Turn right onto
Hwy 581 South. After .9 mile, turn right onto Community
Drive. After .7 mile, warehouse is on left.

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Today at MERCI:

It seems that each year gets more and more challenging while
offering more and more opportunities to be in ministry. This
year started on a smooth note with only Hurricane Isabel to
complete and a few new homes. And then Hurricane Katrina hit
and the world changed.

All the new homes were completed but we still have a few
disaster-homes to finish; all of them are in Hyde County
and all are Hurricane Isabel related. When we talk with
folks in the Gulf Coast area is easy to understand the
concept long term recovery [4,569 volunteers worked
85,567 hours to complete 39 homes this year]

We have some clients waiting for volunteers in order to
start their repairs. If you can't get to the Gulf Coast,
there?s plenty of work right here in eastern North Carolina.

Katrina brought to light the need for being ready. One of the
challenges we accept for this coming year is to have supplies
on hand and ready to ship when and where needed. One of our
priorities for 2007 will be stocking the warehouse with all
the emergency supplies and having them on palettes and ready to
go.

Volunteer Teams Needed:

In preparation for the upcoming hurricane season, volunteer
teams are needed at the MERCI Warehouse in Goldsboro, NC.
Teams will collect, sort and pack response kits, organize
inventory to prepare for immediate response, become trained
to better respond to emergency situations (see Training at
MERCI) and commitment to join a team to serve in the most
awesome ministry of caring! To schedule a team of one or
more, call Ann Huffman at:

1-888-440-9167 or email at: ahuffman @nccumc.org.

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Disaster News Network Volunteer Op listed by MERCI:

Speciality: Home repair and replacement from Hurricanes Isabel
& Ophelia

Description of volunteer needs: All types - carpenters, sheet
rock finishers, painters, plumbers, electricians, roofers,
listeners, office help. Emergency kits need to be assembled,
packed, inspected, and shipped.

Skills volunteers are required to have: Willingness to work

Useful Skills: Any and all skills needed

Tools or supplies volunteers should bring: Personal tools helpful,
most tools available

Will volunteers need to bring any money or material, such as for
housing: Housing fee is $20/person/day

Length of time volunteer can help: Any length of time

Size of volunteer team: 2 to 12 ideal, larger accepted when
space allows

Are individual volunteers welcome? Yes

Age restriction, if any: 16 and older

Denomination/affiliation, if any: United Methodist but all are
welcome

If yes, must volunteer be a member: No

Any other restrictions: Some handicapp accessibility is available

Housing provided for volunteers, if any: Yes, some housing costs
may vary

Meals provided for volunteers, if any: No, but kitchens are provided

Any additional notes: If traveling cross country, lodging may be
available for $10/night. Twenty minutes off I-95. Subject to
availability. Call for reservations and directions. Starting from
Floyd (1999) continuing through Hurricanes Isabel (2004) and Ophelia
(2005).

Approximate date the project started: Sep-15-1999
Information Updated: Aug-02-2006