Disaster Relief Trips

Disaster Relief Trip: December 1-6 

Chris Cadenhead will be leading a team of volunteers to Damascus, VA on December 1-6 to work with our Virginia Baptist partners to assist the with the ongoing work of disaster recovery. The work will mostly focus on repairs and rebuilding efforts for homeowners whose property was damaged by the storm. While construction experience will be helpful, there will be professional contractors on site to guide the work, so no special skills are required to participate. Anyone interested in participating should contact our Minister of Community Life, Ryan Saunders, at rsaunders@bonsackbaptist.org by Monday, November 25.

Southwest Virginia was hit especially hard by Hurricane Helene. The Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) is activating its Disaster Response ministry to help with recovery work. As a partner church with the BGAV, the Bonsack family can get involved in these ways:

  1. Pray: Please commit to lifting up to God’s presence all those affected and all those responding.

  2. Give: You can give financially. Know that 100% of what you give will go directly to the recovery effort.

  3. Go: Teams are currently being organized from all across the state to travel to SW Virginia to provide hands-on relief. The work these teams will do will vary depending on the changing needs of the moment, but it will include anything from serving meals to clearing debris to cleaning out flooded homes to providing counseling to victims. Info for the next trip is at the top of this page.

  4. You can volunteer individually  to serve at a time of your choosing.

The need for help will continue for many weeks and months, so there will be plenty of opportunities to help well into the future. We are committed to standing with those in need for as long as it takes!

Flood Buckets Initiative 

We are collecting completed "Flood Buckets" to send to the affected areas in partnership with Mill Creek Baptist and the BGAV.

Each Bucket Must Contain:

  • 5 gallon bucket – 1

  • 5 gallon bucket lid – 1

  • All purpose sponges – 3

  • Heavy Duty Kitchen gloves – 1 pair

  • Leather Palm Gloves – 2 pairs

  • Handle Scrub Brush – 1

  • Retractable utility knife – 1

  • All Purpose wide mouth spray bottle – 1

  • Liquid Dish detergent (21-25 oz) – 1

  • All Purpose Liquid Cleaner (40 oz) – 1

  • Bleach (32 oz) – 1

  • 33 gal drawstring trash bag – 50 bags

  • N95 valved respirator – 3 masks

  • Reuseable Cotton Towels (Terry Towels) – 4

  • Eye protection (glasses or goggles) – 1 pair

Optional:

  • Mold control spray (32 oz) – 1

  • Sharpie Permanent marker – (black – 2 pk)

  • Cotton Clothesline / Clothespins – 50

*Note: We are not collecting individual items, only completed buckets. 

Collection begins Sunday, October 13th. Drop off location will be the Large White Trailer in the bottom of the CLC parking lot. We will collect until further notice. Don't want to shop? Purchase a completed bucket through BGAV ($75). (Or write a check to BGAV, memo- Flood Bucket.)

Disaster Relief Training