Orchard Hill is committed to helping with tornado and flood recovery efforts for the long haul. This link will be updated regularly with current needs and volunteer efforts. If you have questions or a project you would like to lead, please contact Becky Bartlett at bbartlett@orchardhillchurch.org, 319-269-8999 (cell).
   * See bottom of page for letter to our congregation from Dave Bartlett.

 Flood Clean-up Volunteers Needed ::   read needs carefully... there are jobs for all ability levels!
     
       ** Remember to wear old clothes and shoes.  Bring work gloves!! 
    *** IMPORTANT- bring water and a lunch with you when you volunteer!  Food/drink will not be provided.


Orchard Families Requesting Help- 


Rod & Emily Schut ::  Help Needed Anytime, Items Needed
307 Crestwood Ave., Waverly 
Rod & Emily are currently working on drywall.  They have it hung and mostly taped.  They'd like some help with the mudding.  Please call or email if you have any time you could volunteer to help. 319-352-1974, schut@q.com   They are looking for a toddler bed.  Please contact them if you have one they could have or buy.


Wes & April Peters - Need double stroller.
They purchased a double stroller 2 weeks before the tornado hit.  If you have one you could give them, please call Kelly Kramer at 319-266-8749.


Amy Baker - Needs household items
Fencing for a dog kennel.  Lawn mower or weed whacker, rake, shovel.  Outdoor grill.  Small endtables, small table lamps.  Area rug. Dining room chairs.  (she already has a table)  Hand tools- power drill, hammer, screw driver, pliers, etc.




Others Requesting Help-

David Lucas & Family - Waverly
319-352-0399  Comfort Inn, Waverly or  319-939-0280 Alternate number
This family lost  their house in the flood is in need of assistance. They currently do not have housing and have two boys with Lesch-Nyhan Disease. They are in wheel chairs, have feeding tubes, and require continual medical attention. This family was in a FEMA mobile unit that had mold in it. They were then moved to a hotel in Waterloo, and just recently the hotel had no vacancy left. They are currently in the process of taking their boys to their grandparents in Ohio, as the stress of the continual moving and uncertainty is making their illness worsen. They have given me (Jo Dorhout) permission to share their contact information to try and help match them with resources in the community to match their needs. Any resources that you could provide them with would be an immense help for this family.
IMMEDIATE NEEDS ::  Funding or assistance for demolition and construction of home, nursing care to assist with boys, donations to help cover cost of flight for boys.
Questions - please contact Jo Dorhout at jo@vifamilies.com, 277-4904.


Easter Seals :: Need Equipment
The Easter Seals Equipment Loan program has been depleted by assisting flood victims and has people on waiting lists.  If you are aware of people or organizations that may have used/stored equipment (scooters, wheelchairs, shower chairs, toilet risers, etc) the would be willing to donate, please have them contact Easter Seals immediately.   515-309-2395, info@eastersealsia.org


Our Shepherd's Closet ::  Item Collection and Distribution
See description below...

* Tornado Clean-Up 

*Financial Help – For Tornado and Flood Victims

Financial help can be given through Orchard Hill’s Cup of Cold Water Funds. Checks can be made out to Orchard Hill Church and “Cup of Cold Water-Tornado” or “Cup of Cold Water- Flood” written in the memo line. These funds will be distributed first to those within Orchard Hill Church who have needs during this recovery period and then to others who have needs during this readjustment time. All funds for tornado & flood recovery will be used for that purpose. 

* To date we have received over $12,000 which will be used to help the families in our church affected by the tornados. Thank you for your generosity.

Pray for Tornado and Flood Affected Families

James 5:16 – Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.

Families in Parkersburg, New Hartford, Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Dunkerton, and surrounding areas need your prayers of encouragement and intercession.

Orchard Families affected by tornado-
Mike & Megan Steffen
Wes & April Peters
Dean & Michelle Everts
Brad & Malea Wyant

Orchard Families affected by flood-
In New Hartford:
Steve and Doris Heerts
Jason and Sarah Heerts
Dustin and Santana Lindaman
Scott and Barb Mead
A.J. and Christy Manfull
 
In Waterloo/Cedar Falls:
Amy Baker
Misty and Brad Block
Dennis and Bonnie Pruckler
Kim and Kelli Manfull
Jim and Kay Clements
Bill & Andrea VandeHaar
Ken Brost (Mike's dad)
Mike Ryken
 
In Waverly:
Rod and Emily Schut
Tim & Sonja Bodine
Dustin Rewerts
Dave and Laura Frerking
Mark & Terri Adkins
Bob & Sue Howe
Frank & Margaret Kenealy (rental property)

In Marble Rock:
Lyle and Ann Chambers (Tammy Chambers' uncle and aunt)

In Evansdale:
Marcus & Jeanne Norman

A Letter to Orchard Hill Church from Dave Bartlett ::

Thursday, June 12 at 10:00 a.m.
 
Friends and Partners,
 
Our church has a great opportunity to be "salt and light" during these challenging days.  The attention of our entire nation is on Iowa and you and I live right here in the middle of the flood and tornado areas.  We don't need a mission trip to the damaged areas.    The people in need are in our own back yard; they are people we know, people in our own church and those in our own city.  Churches across Iowa and the nation are sending mission trips to us.
 
Help is going to be needed possibly beginning as soon as Friday in some flooded homes.  Help doing childcare, help tearing out carpet, hauling stuff, disinfecting, cleaning, etc.  We have set up a link on our website which will serve as INFORMATION CENTRAL which will list both the needs and those who are willing to help.  Becky Bartlett (bbartlett@orchardhillchurch.org) and cell phone (319-269-8999) will be keeping this site up-to-date daily.  She will also be working to connect those who want to help with those who need some help.
 
And this is no time to forget the help needed by tornado damage victims.  There is still much to do in those areas especially as soon as the areas dry out a bit.  Whatever you do, please don't forget to pray!!  Please stand ready to help.  If you are one of those who could utilize some help, please call Becky and let her arrange some help for you.   (see list of affected families above in prayer section)
 
We know there will be other families we have not yet heard from.  I know that you also have family, neighbors, friends and co-workers who have damage and need help. 
 
If you are able and willing to help in any way, please email or call Becky Bartlett: 
Childcare, cleaning, tearing out carpet and flooring, hauling with a truck.
 
Quite often these last days I've been asked, "Why is God allowing all of this?"  "What is God trying to teach us?"  "What is a tornado, floods and now 13 and 14 year old boy scout deaths about?" 
 
I believe that the Bible explains  that we live in a broken world.  We are broken as people by sin and even all of nature is broken and not operating according to God's original design.  But God's spirit is one of hope, courage and boldness.  Let's walk forward in the power of His Spirit as we  live out our call to be "salt and light" in this world.
 
Maybe God could use one of these two verses to encourage you today:
 
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  (Romans 15:13)
 
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)