Friends, thank you for the messages checking in. Ferncliff is okay and it does not appear that we have suffered any significant damage in the recent storms and tornados.

However, we know that many neighbors in our community and in Arkansas have suffered losses. The photos and videos of the damage are heartbreaking. In the coming days and weeks and months ahead, the families affected by this disaster will need prayers, assistance and support.  There are many individuals and organizations making a difference already here in Little Rock.   Here is a list of how Ferncliff is involved and how you can support our efforts.

1) Sponsor a Red Cross Volunteer: Ferncliff is hosting 20-30 American Red Cross Volunteers on site for at least the next two weeks. We are providing lodging for them just outside of the city so that they aren’t taking up any hotel rooms that could be used by families that are displaced. You or your church can sponsor a Red Cross Volunteer by donating to Ferncliff. As a reference, we estimate that $1000 will cover 1 volunteer for 2 weeks of service.

Help Sponsor a Volunteer

2) Replenish Our Disaster Kit Supply: We expect that much of our inventory of Church World Service Disaster kits and supplies will be used to support the local recovery efforts. Soon we will need more kits to inspect or funds to help us purchase the supplies to build new kits. Here is a list of the kits we distribute: Hygiene Kits ($15), Period Packs ($15), School Kits ($15), Clean Up Buckets ($75), Welcome Back Packs ($75). To learn about the contents of each kit visit: https://cwskits.org/

Donate Towards Disaster Kits

3) Support the Presbytery of Arkansas’ DRPT: Ferncliff often works in partnership with the Presbytery of Arkansas’ Disaster Response and Preparedness Team. You can support their work as they provide funding and supplies to individuals and families that have immediate needs. To support these efforts, visit:  https://presbyark.org/ministries/disaster-response/

4) Support Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: Ferncliff often works with PDA. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance enables congregations and mission partners of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) to witness to the healing love of Christ through caring for communities adversely affected by crisis and catastrophic event. To support PDA and learn more visit: https://pda.pcusa.org/

5) Register a Mission Team at Ferncliff: Ferncliff is a permanent host location for disaster assistance mission teams. Registering as a mission team at Ferncliff you will assist in our disaster assistance center and we will help connect you with local service agencies to support their work in our community.

Learn More or Register

There has been great loss. And there is great generosity being demonstrated. If you are looking for ways to support local efforts please consider one of the ways listed above.  I am seeing an incredible outpouring of love and support for our friends and neighbors. The initial response is inspiring but not surprising because this is how Arkansans and Americans respond when our community is in need.

The recovery will take some time and admittedly may outlast our collective attention span. That’s why it is important to support the work of the American Red Cross, Church World Service, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Ferncliff and other organizations that support community recovery efforts continuously, when our individual attention may turn elsewhere.

If you have any questions about how you or your church can help in Little Rock’s recovery through Ferncliff and our disaster assistance operation and our support of Red Cross volunteers please reach out to me directly @ jgill@ferncliff.org.

Appreciatively,

 

Joel Cory Gill

Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center
1720 Ferncliff Rd
Little Rock, AR
72223