Mercy Response has established a relief camp to house relief teams and workers at the Vineyard Church Clear Lake in Webster, TX. We are currently sending out house gutting teams and community service teams for projects within the community.
If you would like to send a team to assist with the Hurricane Ike relief effort, please SIGN UP on the WEB SITE:
http://www.mercyresponse.com/cgi-bin/kingdomtools/ktpublic.rb
Where will I be staying and where will I be working?
We are currently housing teams at The Vineyard Church Clear Lake in Webster, TX, approx. 30 minutes from downtown Houston and 30 minutes from Galveston. The address for the church is: The Vineyard Church Clear Lake16920 Texas AveWebster, TX 77598281-338-2239
What are the accommodations like?
Teams will be staying at the Vineyard Church Clear Lake. Basic sleeping cots are provided. Team members are asked to bring their own bedding and pillows. The church has restroom facilities and Mercy Response has supplied a shower trailer for volunteer use. There are outlets for cell phone chargers. There is not wireless access in the camp/ sleeping area. A washer and dryer is not available at this camp. Team members are encouraged to bring enough clothes for the week.
I am trying to set up a budget for the trip. What are the costs that we need to prepare for?
To help offset the costs of running the camp we suggest a $50 donation per person per week. Please note this is a suggested donation and not a registration fee.Also, you and your team are responsible for paying your own way to Texas and back. This includes both fuel and vehicles to and from Houston, as well as to and from your work sites each day. Also, any meals during travel, Sunday meals, and any meals you choose to eat out while here should be considered as additional expenses. **Any donation checks need to be made out to Vineyard USA with IKE RELIEF noted in the memo line. Checks can be given to the camp manager or sent directly to the Vineyard USA office. PO Box 2089, Stafford, TX 77497
What is the schedule for a typical day?
The day starts at 7:15 am with general prep for the day. Breakfast is at 7:30 am and the teams will get ready to leave for the work sites at 8:15 am. Teams leave the worksite by approximately 4:00 pm in order to get back to the main site, shower, and have dinner at 5:30 pm. After dinner, there are no scheduled events for the remainder of the evening. Teams are encouraged to meet and discuss the events of the day/week. Spaces are available to have a brief worship time or a group meeting. Lights turn off in the main sleeping area at 10 pm.
Do you work on Sundays?
As a general guideline, we take Sundays off to provide a day off for the local staff and volunteers. This means that no meals are provided or work teams sent out on this day, though housing is always available. We encourage teams to explore the city and/or rest for the work week ahead. If choosing to attend the local Vineyard church while here (optional), service times are as follows: Sundays 10:00 am.
Will any meals be provided for me?
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided, Monday–Friday of each week. If your team is working on Saturday, meal service will also be provided. No meals are provided on Sundays.
What if I have special dietary needs?
Our kitchen crew works very hard to prepare filling, healthy, balanced, (and quite tasty) meals for our volunteers. If you have special dietary needs (e.g. lactose-limited, Atkins, vegetarian, low-fat, vegan, gluten-free) we are simply not set-up to prepare special meals. Individuals with special dietary needs can bring/buy and prepare their own food. If needed, a microwave and refrigeration can be provided.
WORK / ACTIVITY
What type of work will I be doing?
The needs of each location change frequently, so work projects can vary. We ask that volunteers be flexible when they come and willing to do whatever is needed. The most common projects being done at this point are: removing personal belongings out of the house, demolition of home interiors (removing carpet, sheetrock, etc.), heavy-duty cleaning (removing mud/dirt/mold) so that people can begin rebuilding. You also may be asked to help serve hot meals to local residents. We are still accessing the needs of the community and may add additional projects as needed.
Is there an age requirement for volunteering?
Yes. We require all volunteers to be at least 18 years old.
PACKING LISTS
What tools & supplies should I bring?We have transported gutting tools from our New Orleans site for your use. Teams should not have to bring any personal ladders, wheelbarrows, etc.
Suggested Items to Bring:
Safety Glasses/Goggles
Work Gloves
N95 Dust Masks (2 per person/ day)
1 First Aid Kit
What personal items should I bring?
At least 4 changes of clothes that can get dirty/ruinedExtra pairs of socksWork boots or Heavy-duty tennis shoes (You CANNOT work in open-toed shoes such as sandals or flip-flops)Rain gear (a rain jacket is usually sufficient)Coat/Jacket or layers for cold weatherToiletriesFlip flops for the showersSleeping bag (or equivalent, warm bedding)PillowSingle-size air or foam mattress (optional) PLEASE DO NOT BRING any items of great personal value, expensive jewelry, etc.
Do I need to get shots before coming?
Although it is not required, we highly encourage being up-to-date on your Tetanus shots. Other recommended shots include Hepatitis A & B. If you are severely allergic to mold and/or dust, we recommend speaking with your physician prior to making trip plans.
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
What type of vehicles should we bring?
You should plan to bring enough vehicles to transport your team and work tools. In addition to your team, you many need to transport shovels/rakes/brooms, several five-gallon buckets of tools and supplies, and a wheelbarrow for every five people on your team. Some teams choose to strap wheelbarrows to the roof of their vehicles. If you decide to rent a vehicle for the trip, Mercy Response strongly suggests that you rent a 12 or 15 pass van. You will be sent out with a lot of large equipment and tools that need to be transported to your work site each day. The back seats can be taken out of a large van, leaving room to transport both your team and the tools. Pick up trucks are also a very handy vehicle to have on hand if possible.
Do you have vehicles we can use for the week?
No. Each team needs to provide their own transportation to and from the job sites each week.
We plan to fly, which airport should we use?
You should check flights to the William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) or the George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). The Hobby Airport is closer while the George Bush Airport is approx. 1 hour away on the other side of the city.
If we fly in, can you pick us up from the airport?
Unfortunately, we simply do not have the manpower to pick large teams up at the airport. We apologize for the added cost, but you will need to make your own arrangements for transportation. All of the major car rental agencies (Hertz, Budget, Enterprise, etc.) offer their services from the airport. If you are on an extremely tight budget or if you have signed up as an individual, please contact our Teams Coordinator in order to discuss possible options.
Who do I contact with questions?
Janell Hirschoff is the coordinator for volunteer teams. She can be reached by email at janell@mercyresponse.com or 504-467-3257
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From the church web site:
VINEYARD MERCY RESPONSE
In order to assist local church efforts in helping with Hurricane Ike recovery, Vineyard Mercy Response is in Houston to help us serve the community. Work crews will also be coming in from Vineyards around the nation. Visit their website www.mercyresponse.com for more info. Welcome to Houston and thanks for the help everybody.
http://www.vineyardcl.org/flash.htm