A disaster-response team made up of volunteers from Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries recently returned from Biloxi, Mississippi. The team’s mission was to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina with clean-up efforts.

The team spent 10 days performing a variety of tasks including roof repairs, cutting trees, general clean up, unloading trucks, and assisting in a church food pantry. On average, the volunteers worked from 6 a.m. until well past midnight.

“All the survivors looked dazed. Their eyes were glazed and they looked physically and emotionally exhausted. It inspired us to work even harder,” says Rebecca Albright, disaster-response-team leader and director, business management systems/disaster-response services, Diakon.

While the work was extremely hard, the group also found the experience to be extremely rewarding.

The Rev. David Heineman, chaplain, Hospice Saint John — Greater Berks Area, says, “Our time in Mississippi was tough, tiring, and fulfilling. I worked with a great team and it was wonderful to know we were able to have a hand in helping others in so many ways and on so many levels in an area hit so hard and so under-reported by the press as a whole.”

“Every member of our team was ready to come home but at the same time wanted to stay and do more,” says Ms. Albright. “We really became a family down there.”

So far from home, the volunteers did encounter someone with ties to Diakon’s The Lutheran Home at Topton.

“We ran into a gentleman who was a former orphan from The Lutheran Home at Topton. He was living 20 minutes away from where we were working. When he found out we were there helping, he drove all the way out to show his support,” says Ms. Albright.

Ms. Albright was and continues to be in continuous contact with response leaders. She monitored local conditions, ensured the team was properly prepared and equipped to complete tasks assigned, and made certain that the local site was ready to receive them.

In preparation for their mission, team members attended a disaster 101 training course offered by Diakon and Lutheran Disaster Response. During the training session, volunteers learned skills necessary to interact with disaster survivors, how to safely remove mold, personal and site-safety training, how to manage stress and cope emotionally, and team-building skills.

Diakon offers this training to groups who wish to send teams to the Gulf Coast or other disaster sites.

Diakon’s disaster team consisted of five Diakon staff members — Johanna Gieroczynski of Mertztown, Chris Reider of Topton, The Rev. David Heineman of Morgantown, Joie Barry of Macungie, and Rebecca Albright of Macungie.

In addition to sending the disaster team, Diakon will make a $100,000 gift to Lutheran Disaster Response to assist with work in states ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Further, Diakon will match contributions made by employees and residents of its senior living communities, as well as funds raised by program events for this purpose, up to an additional total of $50,000.

“ Diakon’s mission is to serve people in need and I am thankful that we were able to lend a hand to people who have endured such a large-scale natural disaster,” says Ms. Albright.