Episcopal Relief & Development (ER-D) Response to Storm Damage in South Carolina:

Joaquin has largely left the front page news, but the destruction left behind in Charleston, Columbia, and surrounding areas will be with South Carolinians for many months or years.That area suffered several fatalities, widespread flooding, massive destruction to residential and commercial properties, and to the area's essential infrastructure. Widespread and total devastation in several areas. Bishop Wright has asked that churches in our diocese take up a special collection earmarked for disaster relief in South Carolina - St. Patrick's will do this on October 18. Please make your checks to ER-D, with memo entry "South Carolina Disaster Relief", and either drop them in the collection plate or at the church office. We will consolidate and forward our contributions to: ER-D, P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.

Our diocesan point person for ER-D emphasizes that ER-D is in for the long haul:  "Ten years later we are still working in New Orleans, three years later still in New Jersey after hurricane Sandy rebuilding and we will be in South Carolina as long as necessary." Our Fr. Reginald Gunn recounts his 1994 experience in Americus, Georgia, when that area was hit by massive and destructive storms; Fr. Reg attests to the value that ER-D's (then the Presiding Bishop's Fund) financial support made to their recovery.