At the New York Disaster Interfaith Services 2016 Annual Meeting and Partnership Awards on January 14th, the Construction Volunteers and Donations Committee (CVD) of the Brooklyn Long Term Recovery Group was recognized for their efforts in 2015. The CVD is a collaboration of disaster case managers, rebuild partners, volunteer recruiters, and donors to meet the unmet rebuild needs of our Brooklyn neighbors. The basic gist is most organizations do not have the resources in and of themselves to take care of all the unmet need, but together, our combined resources are able to help a lot more neighbors get back to safe, healthy, and comfortable homes. I have been privileged to chair this committee since March of 2014.

The system is far from perfect, nothing is in life, certainly not in the wake of a natural disaster. But the system at the CVD has worked. In fact it has worked quite well. By the end of 2014, other recovery coalitions were beginning to ask me to come and explain why our system in Brooklyn was proving successful. And I told them all the same secret, our system works in Brooklyn because I am surrounded by wonderful, talented people who want it to work. What we’ve been doing at the CVD is not rocket science. But it does require folks to set aside egos, to resist being territorial, to exercise flexibility while still maintaining their organizations particular criteria and standards.

There are a lot of folks who deserve recognition and our thanks who have served faithfully at CVD the last two years. Not taking anything away from their contributions, I would like to thank five individuals who have been at the CVD from the start. If I had been more prepared, I would have made sure they come forward and received the NYDIS award on January 14th, as it is their hard work, both at the meetings and behind the scenes, that has allowed our little committee have a huge impact on Brooklyn. So to my four colleagues pictured above – Jenn Pogue-Geile (LSSNY), Gillian Prince (NYAC), Caitlin McLaughlin (LSSNY), and Richard Vernon (The Salvation Army) – and to Dana Nelson (CCBQ) who couldn’t attend the banquet, thank you. Thank you for wanting this to work. Thank you for making the CVD meetings something to look forward to. Thank you for creating a place where recovery partners could keep the same common goal in focus, helping our neighbors.

Warmly,

Pastor Brian Steadman

Many of our Sheepshead Bay neighbors are still struggling to recover from damage caused by Hurricane Sandy even now, three years later.  Read the latest here.

On October 30th, 2012, Resurrection Brooklyn church members began serving in the temporary shelters for Hurricane Sandy survivors that were being set up in Park Slope, Clinton Hill, and Williamsburg . As the week progressed and just how long it would take for our city to recover set in, the congregations of Resurrection Brooklyn started a full time volunteer rebuild program to come along our neighbors who would need assistance relocating or rebuilding post-Sandy. This ministry became known as Resurrection Brooklyn Relief, and for the past two and three quarter years, we have sought to act as a conduit of materials and coordinated volunteer resources.

With the close of our 12 month grant from the American Red Cross and a diminished supply of volunteer teams, RBRelief officially wrapped up August 31st, 2015. Since Sandy hit our city in 2012, RBRelief facilitated 3,183 volunteers for a total of 20,243 volunteer hours, adding up to $467,006 worth of labor for Brooklyn homeowners with unmet rebuild needs post-Sandy. RBRelief was able to assist 10 families with relocation and completed recovery projects on 70 homes, one small business, and three churches.

First and foremost, we owe a big thank you to all our volunteers. Whether you came locally or from out of state and stayed with us at our volunteer housing, without you RBRelief could not have served the unmet needs of our Brooklyn neighbors post-Sandy. Thank you for giving up your time, money, and energy to come and serve those affected by Sandy. Special thanks to all those out of state teams that came multiple times to Brooklyn to serve in Sandy recovery! You not only met physical needs, more importantly, you gave these neighbors hope. Hope that someone out there hasn’t forgotten their need and cares. Hope that they can recover from this tragedy and have their lives be made whole again. Thank you!

Second, thank you to all the churches, individuals, and volunteer groups who supported this work financially the last few years. I wish I could name you all. Thank you to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and Mission to North America for giving substantially to our first year plus of ministry. We owe a big debt of gratitude to the American Red Cross of Greater New York for reaching out to us in early 2014 to step in and keep RBRelief going for the past 12 months. Thank you!

Third, we would like to highlight a few on the ground partners who have aided our efforts in Brooklyn. The New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church has been our tag team partner on almost all rebuild projects RBRelief engaged since the summer of 2013. Gillian Prince, you’re the best! Thanks to New York Disaster Interfaith Services for all your guidance, support, and encouragement. You helped us, a small grass roots organization, stay in tune with the big picture. Thanks to Bay Improvement Group for supplying us with our first tools and connecting us with so many neighbors in need. And finally, thanks to Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation for serving as our fiscal sponsor for our Red Cross grant and providing support to our projects these past 12 months.

Finally, I would like to thank all the disaster case managers, volunteer rebuild organizations, volunteer recruitment organizations, advocates, and leaders who came together to form an effective collaboration across disaster recovery partners at the Brooklyn Long Term Recovery Group. When asked why the Construction/Volunteers/Donations Committee in Brooklyn works, I always say it is because of the talented men and women who laid their egos aside and wanted it to work. It’s been a pleasure serving with you the past year and a half and I am grateful for all your contributions to Brooklyn recovery.

Resurrection Brooklyn Relief may be closed as a full time volunteer rebuild program, but we are still in Brooklyn. We will transition from being a church with a full time volunteer program to a local church in a Sandy affected neighborhood, serving both Sandy related needs and ongoing needs for the long haul. That said, there is still plenty of Sandy recovery left to be done and not enough hands to get it done. Overall, New York City has not received the steady flow of volunteers the Gulf Coast saw in response to Katrina. If you were hoping to volunteer with RBRelief in the coming year, please consider reaching out to our partner, the New York Annual Conference, who will still be facilitating volunteers through 2016.

The Lord be with you,

Brian, The Pastor of Disaster

Resurrection Brooklyn Relief will continue serving our neighbors for the long term as Resurrection Sheepshead Bay. Check out the video below!

Video by Kevin Osgood, see his work at kevinosgood.com.

James Burch is originally from Grand Rapids, MI. James has worked construction and coached youth sports back in his home state. James answered the call in 2013 to serve alongside Brooklyn residents struggling to recover post-Sandy by volunteering for the grassroots volunteer organization Red Hook Volunteers. Being one of their most qualified and volunteer favorite site supervisors, Resurrection Brooklyn Relief is glad to have him on our team serving in the same capacity. His big smile and constant encouragement make him a joy to work alongside, even if it’s scrubbing nasty mold off two by fours!

James is an avid Michigan State Spartans fan, loves playing basketball, and is currently teaching himself guitar. He can also really sail a disc golf disc if you get a chance to play a round with him.