Rebuilding After Ike

Every year, hurricane season threatens to destroy homes and communities. Last fall, Hurricane Ike devastated a Houston-area community. So World Vision, with offices in Dallas, partnered with a church in this community to distribute building supplies such as siding and ceramic tiles donated through the Storehouse.

In the days following Hurricane Ike, World Vision partnered with Houston-area churches to provide for people’s immediate needs with items such as personal hygiene supplies, cleaning supplies, and clothing. Six months after Ike swept through cities in the gulf coast, the need for building materials remains high. With the current economic downturn, obtaining these items is especially difficult for people in low-income areas.

In one community hard hit by the storm, World Vision is partnering with Island of Hope Church of God in Christ to provide donated products to those in need. Pastor Rusty Singleton, who works with the Church of God in Christ denomination, helped distribute the materials. He described the building supplies as wonderful saying, “It makes me feel good even dispersing a product of that caliber. It’s encouraging for me.”

That encouragement extends to the community as well. People can take more pride in their area when they are able to rebuild. With their housing needs met, they can focus on other needs, and they can reach out to their neighbors more.

Margarito Lozano is one of the many who weathered the storm and then worked to repair the wind damage. Shingles were blown away, siding was ripped off, and two windows were broken. He had done small patchwork fixes, but he lacks the funds to completely restore his home to its previous condition. Working with the local church, World Vision was able to help Margarito and many others in the community.

Through this local partnership, World Vision was also able to help Rylan Scott. He had become pastor of his new church, Yale Street Tabernacle Church of God in Christ, just three months after Ike swept through the Houston area. “When I first pulled up to the premises, the building itself was sagging. It was in poor condition,” he says. “The shingles were rotten and falling off.” Gaping holes in the roof had allowed water into the sanctuary.

The damage to the building dampened the spirit of his congregation. “There were many members who had left because there was a lack of morale,” says Pastor Scott. “When the building deteriorates, the morale deteriorates. People begin to walk away.” The 65-year-old church faced extinction.

Pastor Scott was able to receive new siding for his church building. The new siding did more than just help with physical repairs. The people in the community got excited as they watched the building being restored. “They’re ready to just grow and move forward,” says Pastor Scott. “It has definitely helped the morale of the membership.”

World Vision remains committed to helping the Gulf Coast region recover from Hurricane Ike’s devastation. With the help of corporate partners World Vision can continue to work with local churches and community organizations to assist with this long process. As Pastor Singleton says, “When you’re aiding people at their level, where they are, with quality things, I think that speaks volumes.”