WASHINGTON 鈥� The flooding in West Virginia has caused substantial damage, and that鈥檚 if the waters didn鈥檛 wipe homes right off their foundations.
鈥淗omes that have feet of mud,鈥� said Kelly Padgett, a pastor at Salem Fields Community Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Others are dealing with the loss of 鈥渇amily members that have been washed away in rushing water that鈥檚 still rushing. They have cars that have been washed away, flipped over, completely submerged in mud 鈥� up to six feet of mud in some areas. Complete and utter desolation. It鈥檚 really bad.鈥�
The destruction caused by the massive flooding has called many groups to help. Salem Fields and members of the World Mission Society of Church of God 鈥� which has churches on Capitol Hill and in Burke, Virginia 鈥� are among churches helping impacted communities.
鈥淲e saw absolute devastation,鈥� said John Power, who鈥檚 with World Mission Society Church of God. 鈥淭here were houses and roadways and bridges covered with about a foot, foot-and-a-half of mud. People鈥檚 entire basements were covered in mud. And all the belongings, the furniture, everything was just completely soaked and devastated.
鈥淭here were a lot of houses that didn鈥檛 have anything but the foundations left.鈥�
Help needed for massive cleanup
Power鈥檚 group had people in Clendenin, West Virginia, trying to help in the immediate aftermath.
鈥淲e saw people out there with shovels and with brooms trying to clean up some of this mess themselves,鈥� said Power, 鈥渂ut it would have taken them weeks to try to figure it out and try to get it cleaned up.鈥�
The churches are hoping you鈥檒l help them in their efforts.
鈥淲e鈥檙e taking goods and supplies down there for them,鈥� said Power. 鈥淩ight now there鈥檚 a big need for child care stuff: diapers, formula, blankets.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to load up a couple of box trucks and head over there this weekend and drop it off,鈥� he said, encouraging others to donate the items he mentioned, as well as water, disinfectant wipes and toys. You can drop those donations off at their churches on A Street Northeast on Capitol Hill or in Burke.
Ways to give, what to give
His group is also planning a Fourth of July party for locals there on Monday, 鈥渢ry to make it as normal [of] a Fourth of July as possible,鈥� as he put it, with hot dogs, ice cream, and other summer barbecue staples.
Meanwhile, the folks at Salem Fields have an 18-wheeler they鈥檙e trying to stock up by Friday to take to folks in Greenbrier County, West Virginia.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 departing here on Friday at 3 p.m. and we want to fill it,鈥� said Padgett.
鈥淭hings like bottles of water, cans of food, packs of cheese, peanut butter crackers, tooth brushes, tooth paste, cleaning items, shampoo, towels, razors, feminine hygiene products, flash lights,鈥� are several of the items he rattled off.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e asking that they be placed in a five-gallon bucket with a lid so they can actually keep them dry as they鈥檙e still calling for more storms and further flooding,鈥� said Padgett.
鈥淔or $35 you are providing for a family to make it just few more days, while clean-up efforts are in place and relief efforts on a larger scale are in-bound.鈥�
If you鈥檙e willing to drop off some, all, or even more than what they鈥檙e asking for, the truck is already there at 11120 Gordon Road, Fredericksburg, Virginia.
鈥淭hey can buy some, all, as much as they feel led to do,鈥� said Padgett. 鈥淒rop it off at any time. The doors will be open on the truck from 9a.m to 9p.m, and if the doors are closed and they come after they can leave it under the truck and we will stock it as soon as we open the doors again.
鈥淎nything that they can do to help, we are so thankful and looking forward to taking that to our friends.鈥�
First responders are also reaching out. Earlier Wednesday the Wheaton Volunteer Fire Department donated an ambulance to first responders in Clay County, West Virginia.
This is just a partial list of what鈥檚 being done locally though.
Members of the Fairfax County police motor squad are collecting items, as well. Further information is posted at the police department鈥檚 official .
How to help
Salem Fields聽Community Church
Address: 1120 Gordon Road, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Items sought:
- Five-gallon bucket with lid
Food items:
- Three bottles of water (or cases of water)
- Two cans of food with pop top lids
- A treat
- A pack of cheese or peanut butter crackers
- A sealed pack of utensils with napkin
Personal items:
- Two toothbrushes packaged
- Toothpaste
- A bar of soap packaged
- Shampoo
- Bath towel
- 2 wash cloths
- Comb
- A razor packaged
- Feminine products
Miscellaneous items:
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- One roll of toilet paper wrapped
- One roll paper towels
- Small container of disposable cleaners such as Clorox or Lysol
- Bible
World Mission Society Church of God
Address: 700 A St. North, Washington D.C., and聽5252 Lyngate Ct., Burke, Virginia
Items sought:
- Diapers
- Formula
- Blankets
- Disinfectant wipes for furniture
- Toys
