FEATURE

Your help is needed!

The communities in and around Barre and nearby Montpelier, Vermont were hit with historic and catastrophic flooding of the Winooski River, following more than 8” of rain on July 12, 2023. Pastor Carl Durham reports that, while the members of Covenant OPC in Barre, VT, were spared, there is great need in both Barre and Montpelier, VT and local efforts are underway to organize teams through OPC Disaster Response to participate in disaster response effort.

The scope of the damage caused to homes throughout Vermont grows daily. Every morning at 8 am there is a prayer at the flagpole in front of the Barre Auditorium. Many pastors and church members are attending the meeting, their hope is that it grows daily to the point of city wide notice.

Covenant OPC is looking for volunteers to help with community outreach in Barre and Montpelier, VT starting the week of August 13 as they help neighbors muck out and spray enzymes to prevent mold after the catastrophic flood nearly a month ago. There are many needs!! If you are interesting in helping, be sure to register as an OPC Disaster Response volunteer by filling out this form, if you haven’t already.

Then contact deacon Craig Comstock, serving as the volunteer coordinator, for more information.

To keep updated on the effort, go to: OPCDisasterResponse.org

Please praise the Lord with us that site coordinator, Dan Bair, was able to find suitable housing for out of town volunteers!

An oversight group (VDOC) Vermont Disaster Oversight Committee meets weekly via Zoom to discuss the response needs. Members include: Pastor Durham, elder Mike Breen, deacon Craig Comstock and member Dan Bair of Covenant OPC, Barre, VT, along with PDC Chairman Mike Shingler from the Presbytery of New York and New England, OPC Disaster Response Coordinator, David Nakhla and Committee on Diaconal Ministries Disaster Response Subcommittee member John Voss.