by Brother Jacob Farrar
At 6:55 a.m. on Sunday, August 14, President Quinn Coburn sent an urgent email to ward leaders in the Akron Ohio Stake. The message was specific – each unit in the stake needed to mobilize a work crew of 8-12 to travel to Southeastern Kentucky the following weekend to assist in the cleanup efforts from the historic flooding at the end of July. The Akron Stake, along with volunteers from two Cincinnati stakes, four Columbus stakes, the Zanesville stake, and the Huntington West Virginia stake were asked to assemble at 7 a.m. on August 21, at the ward building in Martin, KY – the center of operations for the relief efforts by the Church since the flooding devastated the region.
The Akron Ohio Stake answered the call. Despite being the furthest away from the flood area, and with some of our workers traveling over six hours, 158 members of the stake in 12 work crews descended upon Martin, Kentucky. They assembled the necessary tools and relief supplies to offer the needed assistance. In addition to the ward building being the base of operations for coordinating projects, the empty field next to the chapel became a campground for volunteers – the accommodations even included makeshift showers.
Our work crews were assigned 4-5 projects in the area and the necessary supplies to accomplish the projects. Work crews in our stake assisted in a variety of cleanup efforts, including debris and mud (mucking) from flooded basements, moving junk and damaged appliances out of flooded homes set for demolition, cutting down fallen trees, placing tarps on damaged roofs, and most important, providing comfort and peace to devastated residents in that part of the country.
Despite being assigned specific work projects, some working crews noticed additional opportunities to assist and serve residents in the local communities. One of those groups was the crew from the Canton Ward. While on their lunch break from their assigned project, they made connections with a local thrift store and the fire department and organized efforts to muck the flooded store, move merchandise, and even help the cleanup efforts of the City Hall. These were not planned work orders, but the ward members saw the need and felt that the efforts would bring hope and connection to the residents in that town.
In the April 2022 General Conference, President Russel M. Nelson reminded those who have entered the waters of baptism of our obligation to assist with efforts like those in Kentucky, “Every person who has made covenants with God has promised to care about others and serve those in need. We can demonstrate faith in God and always be ready to respond.”
It was an amazing experience. To witness not only the devastation but also the gratitude of those served was eye-opening and something that volunteers will never forget. In addition, the opportunity to work alongside friends and ward members to accomplish these very large and overwhelming tasks was awesome. Heavenly Father loves all of his children, and He often asks some of them to help those that are in need.
Akron Ohio Stake News 