Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Workshop to focus on helping Harrisburg

Rev. Bryan Crousore, an emergency response specialist with Church World Service, will conduct a free workshop on "Long-Term Recovery from Disasters" for clergy and community members who are helping people affected by the Feb. 29 tornado in Harrisburg, IL. The workshop will take place on May 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Zion United Church of Christ, 930 West Cherry St., in Marion, IL.

It will cover topics such as organizing a long-term recovery committee, identifying needs caused by the tornado and using appropriate resources to meet these needs. No registration is necessary to attend the workshop and all are welcome. Rev. Crousore is an expert at helping communities get organized to meet local needs following a disaster. He began this work when a devastating tornado struck the town of Xenia, Ohio, in 1974, near where he served as a pastor.

Rev. Crousore has provided training in the "long-term recovery process" to Midwestern and Appalachian communities affected by floods, tornadoes and other disasters. He has also helped train staff members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, members of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters and other groups. "I hope faith leaders and social service agencies will come together around a shared vision of long-term recovery from the Harrisburg tornado," Rev. Crousore says.

For more information or to arrange a phone interview with Rev. Crousore, please contact Tim Shenk at Church World Service, tshenk@churchworldservice. org or 212-870-2728. Your congregation’s partnership with CWS makes this possible. For more information about CROP Hunger Walk, Blankets+, and CWS Kits, or CWS response in Harrisburg, please contact the CWS Illinois office at (630) 200-4572 or il@churchworldservice.org or visit www.churchworldservice.org

Pam Folkers, Midwest Area Church World Service, (MI,IL,IN/KY,OH,WI)

Program Assistant, 809 Center St. Suite 7, Lansing, MI 48906, 517-484-7144, 888-297-2767 (toll free)