Texas Conference Katrina Update

On a daily basis, our plans change as we become more involved in providing help and support to our brothers and sisters from New Orleans.

Future training will become general volunteer training.  We will still do some of the cooking and food preparation, but will be asked to do other tasks as needed.  We still need 240 volunteers per shift for the three regular shifts.  An additional shift has been added - 10 p.m.-4 a.m. The number of volunteers have not been determined for this shift.

A plan for organizing United Methodist volunteers for work at the George R. Brown Convention Center is as follows:

Wednesday, September 14 - Houston South District
Thursday, September 15  -  Houston East District
Friday, September 16  -  Houston Northwest District
Saturday, September 17  -  St. Luke UMC
Sunday, September 18  -  Windsor Village UMC
Monday, September 19  -  Houston Southwest
Tuesday, September 20  -  Houston North

We will staff four daily shifts:  4 a.m.-10 a.m.; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; 4 p.m.-10 p.m., and 10 p.m.-4 a.m.  There will be six feeding trailers with each trailer having a team of 40 volunteers per shift.  Each of the trailers will be supervised by 5-6 Disaster Relief members.  Each trailer can serve 20,000 meals per day.  We are not responsible for meal planning and food purchase.  Food service in this way can be provided for about $1.75 per meal.

Volunteers from any United Methodist Church in any part of this conference are welcome to be a part of this effort.  Please e-mail the district office or church for the day you want to serve.  If you can't work on "your district's day, follow the same instructions.

"The churches are responding in a great way to the appeal for support," says Bishop Huie.  "Your faithfulness and generosity is truly appreciated."