Clean Up in Vermont
Deacon Craig Comstock has graciously agreed to serve as the volunteer coordinator for Covenant OPC, Barre, VT outreach to their community following the catastrophic and unprecedented rainfall and subsequent flooding on July 12, 2023. Although there was no known damage to Covenant OPC in Barre, VT or to any member homes, there is tremendous damage to the region around them. Covenant OPC desires to reach out and help the community devastated by the flood.
On July 14, the Vermont Disaster Oversight Committee met to discuss a way forward. Members of VDOC include Covenant OPC member Dan Bair (also serving as the site coordinator), elder Mike Breen, deacon Craig Comstock (also serving as the volunteer coordinator), pastor Carl Durham, Chairman of the PNYNE Diaconal Committee Mike Shingler, CDM Disaster Response subcommittee members Seth Long, John Voss and Ron de Ru, OPC Disaster Response Administrator, David Nakhla and OPC Disaster Response Communications Coordinator, Trish Duggan. This group plans to meet and stay in regular communication for the duration of the effort.
Dan Bair has already made some contacts in the region and is planning to help a gentleman whose walkout basement apartment used on a voluntary basis for housing overflow clients from group homes was destroyed by the flood. Dan plans to take a group to the man's home on Saturday to help with cleanup. During the conversation with Dan, the man repeatedly thanked him and wondered aloud, "People like you do really exist." Dan says he knows of a few smaller jobs to tackle as well.
Please pray that this community outreach effort would make inroads for Covenant OPC into the community and shining a light on Jesus Christ in the process. Some of our OPC Disaster Response registrants have already reached out to Dan, expressing their interest in helping, when they can.
If you would like to help in the cleanup effort in Vermont, please contact deacon Craig Comstock by emailing: VermontVolunteers@opc.org.