Disaster Immediate Response Team

"We get down in the dirt!"

DIRT was organized to help, in any way possible, following the 2007 Ground Hog Day tornadoes (hence, the term "immediate" in the name). Hundreds of volunteers worked "tirelessly" helping the community for a few weeks after that fateful February day. There were plenty of folks rising to the occasion in the early days after the tornadoes, but what of the long weeks that followed? Would DIRT still be needed?

What of the single lady, who after losing her home, was provided with another and with furniture, but had no way to move?

What of the family who had a broken tree removed from their roof, but couldn't afford to have it removed from their yard?

What of the folks who were stricken but somehow were missed by FEMA and have no idea where to turn?

There are still problems out there, both big and small. Since the days of the tornadoes, DIRT has been working to help those people who need it, and DIRT isn't "tired" yet.

First responders save lives and protect property. FEMA often provides temporary dwelling and direct massive recovery efforts, but more is needed. We found that the need for "second responders" is still there, even now. There are always those who suffer the effects of a disaster and seem "to fall through the cracks". They need help long after the shock and headlines have passed.      THEY NEED US!  WE NEED YOU!

We need volunteers who can run chainsaws, rake, shovel, dig, cut, prune, push wheelbarrows, make phone calls, organize, take inventory, fill water cups, backup a trailer, counsel folks in a compassionate way, drive a nail, recognize a need, use a limb saw, bag leaves and twigs, paint, etc. and have a good time doing it and helping others. We can use your help.

Most all of us are seniors with the same aches and pains as anyone our age, but we've learned how to pace ourselves and get a lot done while actually having a good time and enjoying the fellowship.

Hope Lutheran Church sponsors DIRT, but we welcome folks of all faiths, ages, and abilities. We do not evangelize or proselytize. Baptists, Catholics, Methodists, and many others have joined us in our effort to help the community.  WON'T YOU JOIN US?

5/29/10 Mission:Thirteen members and two former members of Hope's Disaster Immediate Response Team (DIRT) responded to a request from the Wildwood Soup Kitchen on May 29th. After the new walk-in freezer was installed there recently, help was needed to reorganize the kitchen. Cabinets were moved and a new wall built by the men, while the women emptied the cabinets, cleaned the floors, and organized the shelves. Gayle Merrell, supervisor of the soup kitchen, was thankful for the day's work this team provided.

Gayle Merrel, Marion McClarin, Donna Ford Vierow

 

 

8/23/08 Mission: To assist the Chain Saw Gang in tarping roofs in Sanford/Seminole County as requested by Seminole County RSVP. Volunteer Hours: 35

(Click pictures to enlarge) On the Roof : Left picture: L to R, Carl Kusky, two unidentified Sisters of the LDS Church, unidentified volunteer, Wm. "Dutch Schultz, Mike Rance and Mark Albright of TCSG. Right Picture: L to R, standing, Carl Kusky, two unidentified Sisters of the LDS Church, kneeling, Mark Albright, TCSG, unidentified volunteer, Wm. "Dutch Schultz, Mike Rance TCSG.
Off the Roof: Unidentified members of the Chain Saw Gang. Not Shown: Bonnie Kusky. She was busy taking the pictures!

7/08/08 Mission: To relocate furniture and household goods from temporary lodging at 114 Brandy Court, Lady Lake, Florida to a permanent residence at 428 Alma Street. Volunteer Hours: 50

(Click pictures to enlarge) Picture 1: Rear L to R: Don Bertsch, June Ruth, Vic Marsich, Jessie Graff Russ Helveston and Bill Ruth. Seated L to R: Bob Wilkinson, Debbie Marsich and Don McClarin. Not shown: Marion McClarin, photographer. // Pictures 2 and 3: DIRT Volunteers at Work

5/05/08 Mission: To clear trash and debris from the home and yard at 45805 Lake Street, Paisley, Florida 32767  Volunteer Hours:  70

Back row L to R: Deb Marsich, Bonnie Kusky, Larry Van Den Einde, Carl Kusky, Bill Gearing. Not shown: Roy Hunter

How It Started			How It Ended

4/28/08 Mission: To clear brush and debris from the yard at 458 Old Dixie Highway, Lady Lake, FL. Volunteer hours: 70

(Click pictures to enlarge) To clear brush and debris from the yard at 458 Old Dixie Highway, Lady Lake, FL. Volunteer hours: 70

4/24/08 Mission: To conduct training that will insure the safe, efficient and effective deployment of Volunteers as second responders to natural and manmade disasters. Volunteer Hours:  110

Twenty-two Volunteers from Hope Lutheran Church: Betty & Dan Berry, Paul Bowman, Rose Carlson, Barb & Ray Enny, Gary Gerke, Tom Hennessy, Phyllis Hill, Bonnie & Carl Kusky, Debbie & Vic Marsich, Don & Marion McClarin, Ann Miller, June Ruth, Warren "Scotty" Scott, Win Stringer, Betty & Bob Walters and Bob Wilkinson met in the Fellowship Hall of Hope Lutheran Church. 

4/18/08 Mission: To do an interior and exterior cleanup of Hope Lutheran Church. Volunteer Hours: 300

(Click pictures to enlarge) Working at the request of the Building and Grounds Ministry Team over fifty members of Hope Lutheran Church, some 20 of them DIRT Volunteers, met in the parking lot of the church at 7:30 am, Friday 4/18/08. Volunteers moved into the Fellowship Hall where they were organized into teams to do an interior and exterior cleanup of Hope Lutheran Church.

3/27/08 Mission: To conduct training that will insure the safe, efficient and effective deployment of Volunteers as second responders to natural and manmade disasters. Volunteer hours: 118

(Click pictures to enlarge) Twenty-three Volunteers, 19 from Hope Lutheran Church: Betty & Dan Berry, Rose Carlson, Roger Dodson, Ray Enny, Art Fenn, Phyllis Hill, Gayle Kimball, Bonnie & Carl Kusky, Jim & Maggie Lamson, Don & Marion McClarin, Ann Miller, Bill & June Ruth, "Scotty" Scott, and Bob Wilkinson; two from Bethany Lutheran Church, Glenn and Lee Waybright and two first time visitors, Cory & Elaine Meloni, met in the Fellowship Hall of Hope Lutheran Church at 8:00 AM Thursday 3/27/08. Picture 1: Dick Price at work. // Picture 2: Roger, Bob and "Scotty" // Picture 3: Bill, Dan, Art and Ray // Picture 4: Don, Carl and Gayle

3/12/08 Mission: To clear trash and debris from the yard at 41626 Apollo Lane, Deland, Florida. Volunteer hours: 80

(Click pictures to enlarge) Picture 1: L to R: Jim and Maggie Lamson, Merv Mitchell, Ann Miller, Gayle Kimball, Bonnie Kusky, Carl Kusky (above), Marion McClarin. // Picture 2: Where We Started // Pictures 3 and 4: Along the Way// Picture 5: At the Finish

3/07/08 Mission: To clear trash and debris from the yard at 41626 Apollo Lane, Deland, Florida.

L to R: Carl Kusky, Merv Mitchell, Carol McDonnell, Judy Brown, Bonnie Kusky, Tom McDonnell, Marion McClarin, Merle Peterson, Maggie Lamson, Bill Brown, June Ruth, Jim Lamson, and Don McClarin. Not shown: Dick Clapp.

2/28/08 Mission: To conduct training that will insure the safe, efficient and effective deployment of Volunteers as second responders to natural and manmade disasters.

(Click pictures to enlarge) Picture 1: Captain Gail Lazenby (CERT Training Orientation/First Aid) at work // Picture 2: Attentive Volunteers . . .Nineteen Volunteers from Hope Lutheran Church, Gene Biringer, Art Fenn, Gayle Kimball, Bonnie and Carl Kusky, Jim and Maggie Lamson, Bob Mark, Don and Marion McClarin, Carol and Tom McDonnell, Ann Miller, Bill Ruth, Wm. "Dutch" Schultz, W. "Scotty" Scott, Will Stone, Bob Walters and Dave Williams, joined by two Volunteers from Bethany Lutheran Church, Leesburg, Glenn and Lee Waybright, met in the Fellowship Hall Hope Lutheran Church at 8:00 AM Thursday 2/28/08.

2/19/08 Mission: To clear trash and debris from the yard at 1120 N.E. 130th Avenue, Oxford, FL. Volunteer hours: 80

(Click pictures to enlarge) Picture 1: L to R: Carl Kusky, Jim Lamson, Glenn and Lee Waybright, Maggie Lamson, Dave Rystrom Dave Williams, Wm. Dutch Schultz, Rod Nickander, Gene Biringer, Don McClarin. Not shown: Don Bertsch. Pictures 2 through 7: Clearing the yard

2/18/08 Mission: To tell the Hope Lutheran Church Disaster Immediate Response Team story to ALOA SeniorFest 2008.  Volunteer hours:  80

(Click to enlarge) Six Volunteers from Hope Lutheran Church, Bonnie and Carl Kusky, Don and Marion McClarin, Pastor Dean Piper and Wm. Dutch Schultz traveled to the United Methodist Life Enrichment Center in Fruitland Park to take part in AOLA SeniorFest 2008 and tell the Hope Lutheran Church Disaster Immediate Relief Team story.

2/13/08 Mission: To improve the yard at 418 Quail Street, Lady Lake Florida 32159. Volunteer hours: 40

(Click to enlarge) L to R: Don McClarin, Gary Gerke, Gene Biringer, Wm. Dutch Schultz, Merv Mitchell, Don Ruland, Bonnie Kusky, Tom and Carol McDonnell, Bob Mark. Not shown: Don Bertsch and Carl Kusky

 

2/05/08 Mission: Mission: To continue to improve the yard at 422 Hitchcock Street, Lady Lake FL 32159. Volunteer hours: 60

(Click pictures to enlarge) Picture 1: Front L to R: Carl Kusky, Gene Biringer, Dana Ruland, Tess Wengren, property owner, Rose Carlson, Deb Harper, Bonnie Kusky, Maggie Lamson, Jim Lamson, and Marion McClarin; Back L to R: Rod Nickander, Wm. Dutch Schultz, Mike Kunz, Don Bertsch, Lee Carlson, Larry Van Den Einde, Will Stone, Bob Wilkinson, Merv Mitchell, Don McClarin // Picture 2: Team Lamson at work // Picture 3: Celebrating Tess's Birthday // Picture 4:Gary says, "NOW ISN'T THIS FUN?"

1/28/08 Mission: To provide disaster response training for DIRT Volunteers. Volunteer hours: 80

DISASTER TRAINING (Click to enlarge): Front, L To R; Bob Mark, Gene Biringer, Merv Mitchell.  Background; Bill and June Ruth, Will Stone

 

1/24/08 Mission: To continue to improve the yard at 422 Hitchcock Street, Lady Lake, FL 32159. Volunteer hours: 60

VOLUNTEERS AT WORK  (Click pictures to enlarge) Picture 1: L to R: Carl Kusky, Don Ruland, Dana Ruland, Dick Duerr, Bonnie Kusky, Tom McDonnell, Carol McDonnell, Pat Phelps, Tess Wengren, Don Bertsch, Bill Ruth, Don McClarin // Picture 2: Tom McDonnell // Picture 3: Tess Wengren and Dana Ruland

DIRT Forms
Form 1- Safety.doc	Form 2 - Checklist.doc	Form 3 - ID Info.doc	Form 4 - Photo Release.doc	Form 5 - Coordinator	Checklist.doc

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