Collaboration in a Time of Need

By Autumn Dunzweiler

UCC communications coordinator

Just before Thanksgiving in November 2021, several groups throughout Upper Columbia Conference coordinated together with HopeBuilders, a partnership connecting organizations with young people and adult volunteers in their communities, to help provide necessary resources for victims of major natural disasters.

The volunteers included individuals from UCC Adventist Community Services; UCC Pathfinder coordinators; Osburn, Idaho, Pathfinders; Spangle, Wash., Wheatland Coyote Teens and Pathfinders; and North Pacific Union Disaster Response. The volunteers were tasked to fill five-gallon buckets, with cleaning supplies for flood victims, to provide the necessary resources they need after a major natural disaster.

“I believe we packed 225 buckets,” explained Richie Brower, associate director of club ministries at Upper Columbia Conference. “The buckets were donated by Lowes stores in Spokane and Spokane Valley. The contents were provided by funds from NPUC Adventist Community Services Disaster Response.”

Patty Marsh, UCC director of community services/disaster relief, was pleased with all the help and cooperation from so many organizations. “There is great power and impact when organizations and ministries collaborate,” said Marsh. After spending many hours filling buckets, the volunteers put them in storage for safekeeping until a need for them surfaced.

“The buckets were originally packed just before Thanksgiving 2021 in response to the flooding in NW Washington,” said Brower. “However, another agency met that need so ours waited in the HopeBuilders warehouse in Spangle until another need arose.”

On June 13, 2022, Montana conference was hit with catastrophic flooding leaving communities vulnerable. Gabriele Laub, Montana Conference disaster response coordinator, reached out to Larry Mays, NPUC disaster response coordinator, requesting 100 flood buckets. A couple days after the flooding, Mays delivered the flood buckets filled with cleaning supplies to the Montana Conference.

Patty Marsh expressed appreciation for the volunteers saying, “Thank you to Richie Brower and Pathfinders, Larry Mays, and others who assisted in filling these buckets several months ago in readiness of such a disaster occurring. Through this collaborative effort, resources helped to assist a community in great need.”

For more information about volunteer opportunities through Upper Columbia Conference Pathfinders or Adventist Community Services, visit hope-builders.com.