Our parish, St. Paul’s Orthodox Church, recently came together to respond to the need generated by the natural disasters earlier this year. Under the guidance of Maria Brausch, we were able to raise the funds, as well as many donations, to assemble 54 Emergency Clean-Up Buckets. These buckets were later delivered to the IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities) to be passed on to those impacted by the hurricanes and floods this year. Maria was also able to work with our sister parish in Dayton, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, to put together an additional 27 buckets.
What is an Emergency Clean-Up Bucket?
These buckets enable people to begin the overwhelming job of cleaning up after a flood, hurricane, tornado, or other disasters here in the United States. They are comprised of the following materials:
A Multi-generational Project
Projects such as these are always such a blessing to participate in. We had three of us on the team the coordinated tracking down of donations and places to purchase some of the materials. With just one request to the parish, we had enough funds to purchase whatever we could not get donated.
What is an Emergency Clean-Up Bucket?
These buckets enable people to begin the overwhelming job of cleaning up after a flood, hurricane, tornado, or other disasters here in the United States. They are comprised of the following materials:
- Five-gallon bucket, with lid
- Five scouring pads
- Seven sponges, assorted sizes
- One scrub brush
- Eighteen cleaning towels (reusable, like Easy Wipes ®)
- One 50-78 oz. box dry laundry detergent
- One 12 oz. bottle of liquid concentrated household cleaner (like Lysol ®)
- One 25 oz. bottle liquid disinfectant dish soap (like Dawn ®)
- Fifty clothespins
- Clothesline, two 50 ft. or one 100 ft.
- Five dust masks
- Two pairs latex gloves
- One pair work gloves
- One 22-27 count box heavy-duty trash bags (33-45 gallon)
- One 6-14 oz. bottle of insect repellent (drops or lotion, not aerosol)
A Multi-generational Project
Projects such as these are always such a blessing to participate in. We had three of us on the team the coordinated tracking down of donations and places to purchase some of the materials. With just one request to the parish, we had enough funds to purchase whatever we could not get donated.
Then came the assembly. We had adults, high schoolers, and the Sunday school students all participate in the assembly of the buckets. To top off the project, one of our parishioners was able to have his company take care of shipping all 81 buckets to the IOCC warehouse in New Windsor, MD. Below are some pictures of the process.
The Project in Pictures
The Project in Pictures
Our High School Class assembling mask and glove packets.
Sunday School students and adults starting to fill the buckets.
Keeping the assembly line going.
High School quality assurance and adding the lids.
Blessing the buckets.
The Bucket Brigade at work.
81 Emergency Clean-Up Buckets ready to for 81 families.
Special thanks go out to all of the parishioners at both St. Paul’s and Annunciation for your time and resources to help those in need. You are all truly the hands and feet of Jesus.
