How you can help:
- Your tax-deductible donation will allow Partners for Sacred Places to impact more congregations in the City of Galveston.
- Architects are needed to provide building assessments for congregations.
- Individuals who reside in the Houston/Galveston area with experience in working with faith-based organizations are needed to serve as coaches to assist with technical assistance in areas such as strategic planning, program and resource development.
The eye of Hurricane Ike, a monstrous storm with winds of at least 110 mph, landed on Galveston at about 2 a.m. on Saturday, September 13. Waves crashed over the 17-foot-high sea wall, resulting in the pleas for help from more than 300 stranded residents by emergency personnel. Residents of Galveston were among the 1 million coastal residents ordered to flee. The storm left Galveston without electricity, gas, water pressure and basic communications. Homes and other buildings were flooded. Though much of the flooding receded on the following day, sewage and sludge coated the streets.
Since the devastation of the storm, the historical city of Galveston is trying to return to some sense of normalcy. There are more than 50 churches and 2 synagogues representing every major religious denomination on the island. The Texas Office of Partners for Sacred Places has dedicated its 2009 funding and resources to assist congregations affected by Hurricane Ike in Galveston with building assessments and capital grants. Partners will fund up to 12 congregations with up to $300,000 as well as provide coaching, technical assistance, and workshops for all congregations in historic buildings impacted by the storm. Staff from Partners for Sacred Places visited the island, toured these historical facilities and with the assistance of Galveston Historical Foundation met with 65 individuals representing 27 congregations to hear their stories. On Monday, January 12, Bob Jaeger, Executive Director, in collaboration with Galveston Historical Foundation, will announce and recognize congregations that will receive funding from our office.
For more information on this project or how you can assist, please contact Froswa Booker-Drew, Texas Regional Office Director, at fdrew at sacredplaces dot org.
