Episcopal Relief and Development
East Carolina Coordinator
Nancy Broadwell nbroadwell@nc.rr.com
ERD Support in 2006
Parishes of the Diocese of East Carolina have donated a total of $21,855.36 to ERD.
The Diocese has donated $49,569.36.
Update
Episcopal Relief and Development
Network Meeting –May 2007
The diocesan co-ordinators met in New Orleans in order that we might see first ourselves the work that ERD is doing with each of the dioceses. It was an enlightening and emotional experience that I will never forget. It is hard to look at whole communities that are completely gone in Mississippi and those that are partially gone mixed with miles of empty houses, apartments and public housing that apparently looks much as it did more than a year ago in New Orleans. I cannot imagine how it is for those people who live with it day after day. Many people in this diocese can identify with the sense of loss and frustration they are experiencing. Many in this diocese have gone as volunteers and many more sent money. I am so proud to be part of The Episcopal Church and ERD; without the work ERD is funding in conjunction with each diocese it would be much worse.
The good news is that the work is ongoing and led by some amazing people whose commitment showed me the face of God many times during the time I was there. There are so many wonderful stories to tell about those people who have given up careers and come to be there as long as needed.
Those of you who volunteered in Mississippi will be glad to know that the new building at Camp Coast Care is finished, the kitchen is great and the housing more spacious. The school has regained use of the gym and is working to do more preschool work with children who are still living in FEMA trailers. The youth camp at Mission on the Bay now has air-conditioned Quonset huts for the youth volunteers this summer. We toured a new house by the Home Again program that has combined a variety of resources, including the Diocese of Mississippi to help provide affordable housing. We saw the place where churches used to be and met clergy who have no church, no house and maybe half of the congregation. We were able to ride over the new bridge between Pass Christian and Bay St. Louis on the second day it was open; this was much celebrated as it saved a 45 minute to 1 hour commute for many people each day.
In New Orleans we toured one of the new houses build by the Jericho Housing project that the Diocese of Louisiana and ERD are undertaking. We toured several of the Welcome Home centers and observed the mobile medical and respite trailers that the diocese and ERD provide. What we heard everywhere was that without the Episcopal Church and other faith communities nothing would be done. The red tape has been impossible for most people to negotiate. We also toured the ninth ward and Lakeview districts where the Corps of Engineer is working to repair the levees. A great deal of what the Welcome Home centers and the respite care unit provide is trained counselors and people who can just listen.
The message both bishops asked that we bring home is thank you and you are still needed. The diocese of Louisiana now has in the centers housing for volunteers. There is still mucking out and building to be done as well as care and feeding. We promised to deliver that message. We know in this diocese that being out of the news does not mean that the need for help is past.
We met (when we were not traveling) in the Astor Crowne Plaza on the corner of Canal and Bourbon. That hotel housed 2000 people for the first several days during and after the storm with only generators to provide power. Bourbon Street and the rest of the “sliver by the river” is pretty much up and running and providing jobs.
We heard reports from Sanjana Das from the Church of North India about the ongoing work that ERD is doing in that area. We also heard from Aristedes Valencia about work in El Salvador.
The opening service was Ascension Day Eucharist at Christ Church Cathedral. Bishops Charles Jenkins of LA and Duncan Gray of MS were co-celebrants. The Most Reverend Martin Barahona, Bishop of El Salvador and Primate of Iglesia Anglicana de la Region Central de America was the preacher.
The network honored Joyce Hogg who was for many years network co-ordinator, who died shortly after the last meeting. We met many new staff members and had discussions as to how we can better do our job. Our final dinner at the cathedral was catered by graduates of a program called Café Reconcile which trains young people from the destroyed neighborhoods in food preparation and service to prepare them for jobs.
I have many more stories and information both about what we saw and heard as well as information on the Nets for Life program which addresses Millennium Development Goals 1,4,5,6 and 8 as well as information on the MDG Inspiration Fund, a partnership between ERD, Jubilee Ministries and the Executive Council to raise 3 million dollars to fight malaria and other diseases.
Please go to the websites of the Dioceses of Mississippi and Louisiana for more information about their needs in both funding and volunteers. The Episcopal Church and ERD websites have much information also.
You may contact me at nbroadwell@nc.rr.com , 910-8670911 or 5407 Summer Duck Rd, Fayetteville NC 28314.
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