Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Contact: Brian Hauswirth, 573-751-0290
Blunt Praises Organizations’ Compassionate Response, Willingness to Help Neighbors
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today praised the overwhelming show of support organizations and individual volunteers demonstrated in the wake of last week’s winter storm.
“Words cannot express the heartfelt thank you to the volunteer organizations and concerned individual Missourians for their compassionate response to help their neighbors cope with last week’s devastating winter storm,” Blunt said. “Missouri’s volunteers ‘can do’ attitude is outstanding.”
Hundreds of Salvation Army, American Red Cross and faith-based volunteers have been active in providing hot meals, supplies, operating shelters and warming stations for Missourians across the state and most notably in St. Louis City and Cooper, Greene, Iron, Jefferson, Laclede, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis and Washington Counties, as well as stranded motorists along interstate highways over the weekend.
The American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and the Southern Baptist’s feeding operations have provided tens of thousands of hot meals to citizens. Many volunteers working with county public health offices have conducted hundreds of well-being visits for senior and special needs citizens. Likewise AmeriCorps and the Southern Baptist chain saw crews have been helping clear yard debris for those same citizens in St. Louis City and St. Francois, St. Louis and Washington Counties. Other faith-based disaster volunteers, such as the United Way, United Methodist and Catholic Charities, have been providing referral information for thousands of citizens for storm related assistance since December 1.
The Governor’s Disaster Recovery Partnership, Missouri Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, and Community Organizations Active in Disaster are working on long-term recovery needs for citizens in numerous counties.
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