Faith Village Volunteer Center, Smithville, Texas - FACT SHEET 9/10/2012
Faith Village is a facility providing temporary housing and support for volunteer work groups engaged in long-term recovery from the September 2011 Bastrop County wildfire disaster—the third largest "wildland urban interface home loss fire" in U.S. history, and the largest ever in Texas.
The fire burned over 34,000 acres and destroyed 1,691 homes. Of those, 276 were completely uninsured, and altogether more than half were underinsured, with an average coverage gap of some $75,000. Almost half the affected households meet the HUD definition of "low income."
Faith Village welcomes volunteer teams from churches or other groups to assist in cleanup, reconstruction and environmental restoration projects. Based on the model of "volunteer villages" established by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and similar organizations in response to other major disasters, Faith Village is a joint effort of the Baptist General Convention of Texas; Episcopal Diocese of Texas; United Methodist Church, Southwest Texas Conference; and Presbyterian Church (USA), Mission Presbytery.
Primary location for Faith Village is the First Baptist Church building at 306 Hudgins Street in Smithville. The building can house approximately 40 volunteers at a time, with facilities for cooking their own meals and rest and relaxation after each day’s work. An on-site manager handles logistics and administration.
Volunteer teams provide their own transportation to, from and around Bastrop County, and pay a fee of $20 per night to help defray costs of housing and food supplies. Teams are booked through a central reservation facility that secures all necessary information and agreements and, when necessary, attempts to arrange alternative accommodations at overflow sites. Work assignments are coordinated through the Bastrop County Long-Term Recovery Team or other ongoing construction or environmental programs.
Faith Village received its first volunteer group in March 2012, and is expected to continue in operation for a period of at least two years.
For latest news and pictures, follow Faith Village on Facebook at: http://www.com/FaithVillageVolunteerCenter
Faith Village registration and Information: http://www.umcswtx.org/faith-village-registration 775-848-0766
Support Contacts e-mail Preferred Phone
Baptist General Convention of Texas
Marla Bearden, Disaster Response Specialist marla.bearden@texasbaptists.org (214) 825-5382
Brad Williams, First Baptist Church, Smithville fbcbrad@yahoo.com (281) 748-2872
Episcopal Diocese of Texas
Rev. Gill Keyworth, Emergency Response Coordinator gillkeyworth@aol.com (713) 805-2050
Southwest Texas District, United Methodist Church
Gene Hileman, Disaster Response Coordinator aehileman@umcswtx.org (210) 557-8698
Rev. Karen Boehk, Pastor, First UMC, Smithville ksboehk3@juno.com (512) 237-3325
Stan Williams, Treasurer tenorsaxxman@gmail.com (512) 318-3733
Mission Presbytery, Presbyterian Church (USA)
Alan Ford, Chair, Long-Term Recovery Task Force alanford@austin.rr.com (512) 217-5550
For Stories and Pictures of Recent Volunteer Activity - click here
The fire burned over 34,000 acres and destroyed 1,691 homes. Of those, 276 were completely uninsured, and altogether more than half were underinsured, with an average coverage gap of some $75,000. Almost half the affected households meet the HUD definition of "low income."
Faith Village welcomes volunteer teams from churches or other groups to assist in cleanup, reconstruction and environmental restoration projects. Based on the model of "volunteer villages" established by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and similar organizations in response to other major disasters, Faith Village is a joint effort of the Baptist General Convention of Texas; Episcopal Diocese of Texas; United Methodist Church, Southwest Texas Conference; and Presbyterian Church (USA), Mission Presbytery.
Primary location for Faith Village is the First Baptist Church building at 306 Hudgins Street in Smithville. The building can house approximately 40 volunteers at a time, with facilities for cooking their own meals and rest and relaxation after each day’s work. An on-site manager handles logistics and administration.
Volunteer teams provide their own transportation to, from and around Bastrop County, and pay a fee of $20 per night to help defray costs of housing and food supplies. Teams are booked through a central reservation facility that secures all necessary information and agreements and, when necessary, attempts to arrange alternative accommodations at overflow sites. Work assignments are coordinated through the Bastrop County Long-Term Recovery Team or other ongoing construction or environmental programs.
Faith Village received its first volunteer group in March 2012, and is expected to continue in operation for a period of at least two years.
For latest news and pictures, follow Faith Village on Facebook at: http://www.com/FaithVillageVolunteerCenter
Faith Village registration and Information: http://www.umcswtx.org/faith-village-registration 775-848-0766
Support Contacts e-mail Preferred Phone
Baptist General Convention of Texas
Marla Bearden, Disaster Response Specialist marla.bearden@texasbaptists.org (214) 825-5382
Brad Williams, First Baptist Church, Smithville fbcbrad@yahoo.com (281) 748-2872
Episcopal Diocese of Texas
Rev. Gill Keyworth, Emergency Response Coordinator gillkeyworth@aol.com (713) 805-2050
Southwest Texas District, United Methodist Church
Gene Hileman, Disaster Response Coordinator aehileman@umcswtx.org (210) 557-8698
Rev. Karen Boehk, Pastor, First UMC, Smithville ksboehk3@juno.com (512) 237-3325
Stan Williams, Treasurer tenorsaxxman@gmail.com (512) 318-3733
Mission Presbytery, Presbyterian Church (USA)
Alan Ford, Chair, Long-Term Recovery Task Force alanford@austin.rr.com (512) 217-5550
For Stories and Pictures of Recent Volunteer Activity - click here
