Delaware County Church Reaches Out to Flood Victims

By Mark Geary, Reporter

Tools

By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: Jul 27, 2010 at 11:46 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jul 28, 2010 at 12:18 AM CDT

MANCHESTER, Iowa - Governor Chet Culver will reveal his plan for clearing debris from the Lake Delhi Dam failure on Wednesday. It’s something flood-soaked homeowners there are waiting to hear.

The governor wants presidential disaster declarations for the eastern Iowa areas that flooded.

If that happens, more federal money could flow into the state.

As many as 900 homes sit on mostly private roads around Lake Delhi. Estimates are one third to one half of those above and below the dam sustained damage after it collapsed Saturday.

Governor Culver says the state is going to try to come up with a way to have the state, county and private resources cooperate in a clean-up effort. He’ll go to the failed dam site Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. to outline the plan.

But some local churches are already pitching in to help.

As people continue to clean up after this weekend’s disaster, volunteers are preparing to help them get through the recovery process.

Manchester United Methodist Church has both a food and a clothing bank ready to go for flood victims.

“They need something to eat until they can get their homes cleaned up and their cupboards replenished,” Tina Mead said.

Many have little or nothing left to eat in their homes.

“This is the basic staples right here,” Mead said.

Right now, only a few dozen families have stopped by for help. They’re just too busy cleaning up from the flood.

“Through the week, it will really get a lot busier, especially when people start hearing this is available,” Rev. Roger Henry said.

Down the hall, others sort through donated clothing.

“You just take a change of clothes for granted until you don’t have it,” Henry said.

Plenty of families simply can’t afford to replace an entire wardrobe right now, especially when they’ve lost their entire home.

“I’m getting a whole range of people coming in here,” Mead said.

As the water continues to return back to its banks, the church hopes this food and clothing bank will overflow with even more donations.

The food and clothing banks are open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You’ll find the church at 413 East Butler Street in Manchester.

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