Help Flood Victims - VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

[Steven Wilke-Shapiro]

Des Moines Rehabers Club member Jack Porter just notified me about two very important volunteer opportunities being organized by Des Moines Neighbors this Saturday, July 12. 

Because of the late notice, the scheduled Des Moines Rehabbers Club meeting (http://renovatedsm.com/node/275) this Saturday morning will still be held.  However, I encourage everyone who gets this e-mail and can spare the day to volunteer instead of coming to the meeting.  Here are the options in order of time commitment:

1.  Volunteer for the Cedar Rapids cleanup effort (6am to 10pm) - meet at the Mickle Center (contact Des Moines Neighbors to reserve a spot on the bus, see below)

2.  Volunteer for the Birdland cleanup effort (9am to afternoon) - location TBA, please contact Des Moines Neighbors (see below)

3.  Attend the DSMRC meeting then join up with the Birdland cleanup (9:30 to afternoon) - meet at 1631 9th Street

4.  Attend the DSMRC meeting (9:30 to 11:00) - Meet at 1631 9th Street

Volunteers (options 1, 2, and 3) should dress for cleanup work including boots and work gloves.  PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED E-MAIL BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Please consider taking some time to help out our neighbors in Cedar Rapids or the Birdland neighborhood who lost their homes in the recent flood.

Thank you,
Steve Wilke-Shapiro
Des Moines Rehabbers Club organizer

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FORWARDED MESSAGE FROM THE DES MOINES NEIGHBORS - dmneig...@aim.com

Dear Neighbors,

Neighborhoods throughout the state were hit hard by the devastating floods. In our city, Birdland neighborhood was over-run by water and flooded dozens of homes and business.  The clean up has begun but there is more to do.

In Cedar Rapids, it is estimated that 4000 homes have been flooded and up to 2000 homes may have to be destroyed because the damage was so great.  Our friends and neighbors are hurting and several people have asked what we could do. 

On Saturday, July 12, the Des Moines Neighbors and others are organizing "volunteer recovery teams" to help the clean-up efforts in Birdland and in Cedar Rapids.  We are organizing a team to be coordinated with the Union Park Neighborhood to help residents in Birdland and we will be traveling by bus to Cedar Rapids to spend the day working with the United Way of Cedar Rapids "Corridor Recovery Committee."

We need volunteers to help clean up both neighborhoods.

For Birdland, we will meet at 9 am (location to be announced) and work with city crews and the Union Park Neighborhood. 

For Cedar Rapids, we will meet at the Mickle Center, 1620 Pleasant Street in Sherman Hill,

at 6 am and return by 10 pm Saturday night.  We have a donated bus that will hold 55 volunteers.

Please email back to us the following information:

1. Which neighborhood would you like to volunteer in ?
2. How many people will be in your party?  Give the names, addresses, telephone number and email address for each person.

In Cedar Rapids, you will receive snacks, lunch and dinner. 

For both neighborhoods, you will need protective clothing such as boots and gloves

We will provide more detail to each volunteer when we get your commitment. Arrangements are still being made so the details will come later as we will be working in a one or two block area in existing neighborhood in Cedar Rapids.

When disaster hits, Iowans give a helping hand.  Birdland residents and 40 square blocks in downtown Cedar Rapids have been nearly destroyed. Please send this email out to your neighborhood email lists so we can get 55 volunteers signed up!

If you have any questions, please contact the Des Moines Neighbors Neighborhood Resource Office at 280-1807 or by email (dmneig...@aim.com) starting Monday July 7^th.  We will be in touch with you the week of July 7th with more details! 

Thank you. 

Ami Rodman 

Office Manager
Des Moines Neighbors 
Neighborhood Resource Office