Samaritan's Purse deploys Disaster Relief Unit to New Brunswick

Christian relief organization will work with volunteers to aid in flood recovery

CALGARY, Dec. 22 /CNW/ - Samaritan's Purse Canada is sending a Disaster Relief Unit to Zealand, New Brunswick, to help local emergency officials and residents clean-up after heavy rains caused extensive flooding in the community.

The Disaster Relief Unit - a specially equipped trailer - will arrive on Monday, Dec. 27 and be stationed at Burtts Corner Baptist Church. The unit will serve as a volunteer coordination center for Zealand, a town about 35 kilometers northwest of Fredericton. Samaritan's Purse will work with the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee and local volunteers from the region to manage and provide clean-up and other recovery assistance to residents.

"Our first focus will be to send volunteers to those most in need - the elderly, the disabled, or those unable to clean up their homes on their own," said Steve Joudry, the manager of Samaritan's Purse operations in Zealand. "But we also want to be available to anyone who needs any help getting their homes back to normal."

Anyone in the Zealand area requiring free clean-up assistance from Samaritan's Purse can call 506-474-2401.  

The Samaritan's Purse Disaster Relief Unit is outfitted with essential disaster recovery equipment including generators, pumps, hand tools, and safety gear for volunteers. It serves as a base for volunteer response, and is equipped with a self-contained office, communications system, and other supplies.

Volunteers Needed
Samaritan's Purse invites volunteers to join its clean-up efforts in the Zealand area. Volunteers will pump out water, remove soggy debris, treat homes for mould, and perform other recovery work. Safety equipment will be provided and volunteers will receive free on-site training. To volunteer, please call 506-474-2401.

Donations Needed
Donations are needed regularly to help stock and maintain the Disaster Relief Units - one based in Eastern Canada and another in Western Canada - so they can be deployed quickly wherever needed. The units have served alongside Samaritan's Purse Relief Teams after Hurricane Igor in Newfoundland, floods in Alberta and a violent wind storm in Ontario in 2010, and after floods in New Brunswick in 2008. To support the units' ongoing work, call 1-800-663-6500 or visit www.samaritanspurse.ca (click on "Donate").

About Samaritan's Purse Canada
Samaritan's Purse Canada is an international Christian relief and development organization working in about 70 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine, and persecution. The Calgary-based charity also operates the well-known Operation Christmas Child program that sends gift-filled shoe boxes to needy children around the world each year, and the Turn on the Tap initiative that raises funds for life-saving BioSand Water Filters in the developing world. Go to www.samaritanspurse.ca for more information.

For further information:

Media Inquiries: Martin Silbernagel, Communications Advisor
1-800-663-6500 or 1-403-708-9667 (cell) - [email protected]