IOCC’s US program, focused on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, continues growing its aid to disaster survivors across the country. Long-term recovery projects are underway serving communities rebuilding their homes and lives in western Kentucky (2021 tornadoes) and Florida (2022 Hurricane Ian).
Frontliner Fr. Stephen Mathewes recently shared his experience with IOCC in Florida, including a training IOCC organized for Team Leads and Frontliners who will serve there this year.
“We IOCC Frontliners were blessed multiple times over at our annual conference last week. In addition to educational and enriching programs, in addition to the fellowship and prayer, even in addition to all the delicious Greek food we were fed, most of all we were blessed to be able to do what we do: serve amid suffering,” Fr. Stephen wrote.
“The conference was held in Fort Myers, FL, specifically because IOCC is doing long-term recovery work for [people there affected by] Hurricane Ian. Even 16 months later, so many people are still trying to pick up the pieces. On the last couple days of our conference, we joined the ongoing home rebuild work. My team worked on the home of a 91-year-old Navy vet who had already been swindled out of $17K for work that never was done…. We made a small contribution toward righting that wrong.”
Learn more about IOCC’s Action Teams and how you can get involved at iocc.org/actionteams.
