FEEL GOOD: Tornado Stories

As a matter of course, when I present VIND activities to our Board of Directors or to a similar group, I like to share “feel good stories.” It is the exact paycheck people need when doing this type of work! Therefore, as grantors, I would like to share a little about the cases on which we worked during this quarter, all of these examples from 2006/2007 Tornado cases from which you are funding.

Case #1: Early in summer 2007, VIND received a call from a small local church wanting to know if there was anything they could do to help. They had taken a special offering for the tornado disaster. VIND’s office manager explained that one project VIND was putting together was to ask churches to donate the $500 per home needed for the FEMA Manufactured Sales Program. “$500 and we can buy someone a home?” Assured that was indeed the case, the church representative said, “Well, we collected exactly $500, so I guess that is what God wants us to do!” A check was received and earmarked for VIND’s first manufactured home recipient.

A client with whom we have been working on a continual basis was featured in two newspaper articles at the Christmas Day anniversary of the 2006 Tornado. At the time of the disaster, she broke her back by putting herself between her 3-year-old daughter and the flying debris which destroyed her manufactured home. Several churches have been able to offer her assistance, including a donated electric wheelchair built to her specifications and occupational therapy to assist her with life skills tasks from her wheelchair. Always smiling and optimistic, she is in wait for a replacement manufactured home and is that recipient designated so many months ago by a very small and very generous church in Volusia County.

Case #2: As VIND began to close its tornado damaged manufactured home repair cases in September, volunteers seemed to think that the work itself was coming to and end. With a number of manufactured homes being slated for replacement and work not yet identified for site-built homes, the notion of losing a volunteer base was a frightening proposition. The Presbyterian Disaster Association Volunteer Village packed up and left. The Christian Public Service, with whom VIND is share recovery work with LASER of Lake County, were the mainstay of our volunteer base. The CPS house parents (coordinators) indicated that a two week lapse in work would indicate it was time to move on. What we do if they were lost as well? Just at that time, a potential client with a site-built home approached us. His completely destroyed two-story home had been demo’d and a foundation and the first floor masonry walls had passed inspection as he rebuilt. Suddenly, however, he knew he would not have enough funding to complete the project.

This gentleman is a pastor in a community that VIND has had some difficulty making relationships. And this community had needs, not just from tornado damage, but hurricane damage and deferred maintenance.

On my way to meet with him with two Recovery Workers just beginning VIND’s case management processes, I had an inspiration. “Pastor, from my knowledge of construction, I think you are absolutely right. You do not have the funds to finish this project, but you came at just the right time. What we do best is carpentry work. If you can produce funds for materials, we may be able to give you the labor for walls, roof, window and door installation, drywall, molding, even putting up your cabinets if need be. We cannot promise to be on the job every day, since we have other clients with emergency needs, but what we can offer will be free of charge. Labor only. No materials expenses to be incurred by VIND unless Case Management finds that you do not have the resources to accomplish that.”

He looked stunned and amazed. His wife cried. The astonishment turned quickly to suspicion when I added, “I want something in return. VIND donates time. You give me your handshake on donating something to VIND.”

“There are a number of homes in your neighborhood in need of assistance. We counted 14 roofs within a few blocks needing repair. If you use your clout as a pastor and an active member of your community to do some fundraising and outreach, our free labor will continue until the neighborhood’s needs have been met.”

The pastor blinked and said, “I think I can do that.” We not only worked out a great relationship with a client, but also with a community. In so doing, our volunteers agreed to remain as long as needed, surmising that they may need to extend their stay for 12-18 months. In the quarter of October 1-December 30, the volunteers have devoted 358 hours on the pastor’s home.

Case #3: This client was identified by VIND staff members during continued canvassing of the tornado stricken neighborhoods by a blue tarp on the roof. Case management affirmed the client, unemployed, had unmet needs and no resources to complete his recovery. While the job was being done, he pitched in and helped, working along side the volunteers. As a result, he offered to volunteer with other homes in the neighborhood. “I may not have a job, but I have the time.” This client was also VIND’s very first client to complete all the paperwork to get “into the system” for the mitigation of his home. Perhaps, with a new roof and further mitigation, he will never find himself in a damaged home again!


Mary-Ann Luther, Program Coordinator