The following is a letter from Joyce Carr of Olympia Presbytery:

Hi folks,

First of all, I want to thank each and every one of you who has donated either money, items, or hours of your time to work to alleviate some of the burden the flood victims are bearing.  I would guess there have been hundreds of volunteer hours.  For many, this is the only way they will get their homes and lives back together. On behalf of those helped, thank you for shoveling mud, cleaning out belongings, gutting out houses, installing sheet rock and flooring, sorting items in the distribution center, the list goes on.

There are many families still not able to live in their homes.  The need for volunteers is just as great as it was 6 weeks ago.  Some of the tasks needed are

• Shoveling mud away from houses
• Installing insulation
• Putting up sheet rock
• Mudding sheet rock
• Removing wet carpet, sheetrock and cabinets from one house (masks will be available)
• Installing doors
• Trim on doors and windows
• Installing flooring
• Cleaning up yards
• Sorting items in the distribution center
• Helping victims “shop” in the distribution center

There is also a need for people to do wiring.  They don’t need to be licensed, but should have some experience.  One home owner needs someone to look at a well to determine what should be done.

The next two Saturdays, January 19 and 26, there will be Presbytery sponsored work parties.  Folks are asked to meet at Harrison Square Presbyterian Church in Centralia at 9:00 a.m.   The address is 1227 Harrison Ave., Centralia and the phone is 360-736-9996.  Some of you will already have received a couple notices about this.  Enclosed are a couple attachments from the Presbytery Office.  Please notify Rev. Steve Klump if you will be coming so we have an idea of how to plan.  His phone number is 360-864-2482 and his email address is presbyter@toledotel.com.

In addition to these two scheduled days, groups are encouraged to come on other days.  Please contact Joyce Carr at 360-748-7298 or joyce@olypres.org if you would like to schedule a group.  If you want to work more than one day in a row and want to stay overnight, please let us know and we will try to accommodate.

The only Distribution Center at this time is housed in Harrison Square Church.  It is open on Fridays from 1:00 to 7:00 and will be open on at least the next two Saturdays.  Since the other distribution centers have combined with this one, there is much sorting to be done.  Please contact Jan Nontell 360-736-8481 if you can help out on other days.

We would also ask that you be in prayer for the people who have lost so much and for all the volunteers who are helping.

Thank you,

Joyce