"They really appreciated us and they really needed our help. It has changed my life. I learned that I can help others much more than I realized." Fazli Rashid from Pakistan is one of thirty students from Davis & Elkins College that have joined the new D&E Responders program.
Melody Loudin, Community Service Liaison, originated the idea and is coordinator of the new project. "We will be responding in all the surrounding counties for the American Red Cross. Basically, when something happens, they call me. I call my responders and say 'This is what we’ve got; this is where we need to go.' We’ll respond immediately and there’s no lag time for the Red Cross to get here."
When asked why they decided to sign up, Brian Bonnett and Nicole Kramer from Webster County, WV, said they know how this type of kindness affects you when someone helps you, and they want to give back.
Two days later, Loudin and seven students got their first opportunity. Newton Presbytery staff referred Ms. Loudin to Rev. Donald Bragg, pastor of the Parsippany Presbyterian Church in New Jersey, who was literally in his rescue boat when Loudin reached him and he told her, "We need all the help we can get. We will house and feed you. We need people in the command center, and help getting personal and household items out of homes before black mold sets in.” Irene destroyed 500 homes there. Loudin says “Parsippany was hit badly, and these people are still struggling."
Issa Illboudo from Burkina Faso, decided at the last minute to give his Labor Day Weekend to the effort. He said, "When you look at the news to see how bad the damage is, it breaks one’s heart. I know my help may be very small but I’m really glad to be able to bring my help to those people."
Rev. Kevin Starcher, Associate Pastor of the Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church in Elkins, WV and volunteer fire fighter, helped prepare the students. "In emergency services or rescue situations, you’re dealing with people whose worlds have been turned upside down. Their homes have been destroyed, so people are going to be stressed."
Tina Vial, D&E’s Coordinator for Foundation and Church Relations and Support, noted “This is a great example of a missional approach to partnership between the college, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) network, and the local presbytery.” The Presbytery of West Virginia also contributed to the effort by donating $500 gas money from private donations through the Mission, Interpretation and Stewardship Committee.
Vial is also a professional dog trainer and gave the group a primer on how to approach a fearful dog safely, without adding trauma to already stressed, confused dogs.
When they arrived in Parsippany, the situation was worse than Loudin expected. "It looked like a war zone. Residents had seven minutes from notification to get out of the house, because there was a wall of water that came over like a tsunami.”
J. D. Mallow, from Durbin, WV, was particularly moved by an elderly woman they helped. "She just broke down and she was just so shocked and surprised that we would come all the way from West Virginia just to help and donate our time."
Rashid and Ali Alzunaydi from Saudi Arabia, had only been in the United States for two weeks, but the experience in New Jersey confirmed their decision to be part of D&E Responders. Of the experience, Alzunaydi said, "It was my first time being a volunteer. I am proud of myself. It is the best thing I have ever done in my life."
Loudin said, “I am extremely proud of the students and look forward to expanding our efforts through this program.” In the coming weeks, the volunteers will receive training in disaster preparedness, first-aid, and CPR. If the program works well for the college and the community needs, the Red Cross is hoping to make it a pilot model for other colleges and universities around the United States.