The Minnesota Disaster Relief is gearing up to head down south to help in the flood-ravaged areas of Southern Minnesota and Iowa. The first trip will depart Thursday, July 10 at 5:30 p.m. from Holt Tour and Charter and returning Sunday, July 13 at 8 p.m. The second trip is planned for Monday, Aug. 18 at 6 a.m. and returning Sunday, Aug. 21 at 2 p.m. The third trip will depart that same day at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 24 at 8 p.m. Other trips planned for the fall include Sept. 11 - 14, Oct. 9 - 12, and Nov. 13 -16. The cost of the trip is $150 which includes transportation, lodging, and most food. Nagel is also asking for donations including rakes, shovels, gloves, 3M masks, bleach, and general cleaning supplies. Monetary donations are also needed for sponsorships for those who can’t afford to go, according to Nagel. Cedar Rapids more than 3,000 homes sustained damage from flooding and Mason City received more than 1,000, according to news reports. For those interested call Nagel at (320) 296-1521 or e-mail new administrative director Ralph Erickson at mdr.ralph@gmail.com.
As a person who went down to Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina, I can guarantee the trip will be worth while and I would encourage anyone to go.
I am curious as to why the request for donations of shovels, rakes, gloves, 3M Masks, etc. Since these supplies are considered hardware and thus can be re-used, doesn’t the Minnesota Disaster Relief have these supplies on hand at all times when called to assist with flooding, etc.? And the cost to participate is roughly $50.00 per day per person. Is this money used to pay for campsites, and food to be cooked while camping, or where do the volunteers slee and eat? I can understand the high cost of fuel to drive down to Iowa, but I need a little course on fees and expenses for everything else. Thanks!!
After speaking with Al Nagel, the director of MN Disaster Relief, he addressed your questions. Regarding the shovels and tools, MDR is a new organization and does not have the supplies in question. In past trips to Camp Katrina, tools were donated for that camp and are still being used today in Miss. As MDR collect tools this time, they will remain in the organization for such purposes. The cost of the trip ($150) includes four days worth of meals, gas of traveling, unexpected breakdowns, wear and tear on equipment, and lodging. As far as sleeping, it depends on what is available, for example, a possible church, homes, public buildings, or motor coaches in which everything is on board. In asking for monetary donations beyond the cost of the trip, MDR also has a need for funds to pay for fuel and repairs of machinery such as Bobcats.
“When we go on these trips, we ask people to be flexible and to go with a servant’s heart,” Nagel said.
Thanks for your inquiries.
I just read Brady Ernst’s letter in the June 23 paper. (It takes a while for the paper to get here.) I’m not sure that you should be helping the people of Iowa. They might get dependent and lose their self-reliance. They might even become like the poor welfare damaged unfortunates that live in the path of Katrina. No, you ought to stay at home and let the people of Iowa care for themselves. We want them to be self-reliant and not depend on government or good folks or helpful people. Let us not care for our neighbor.