Crisis Response International, a disaster relief organization based out of Blue Ridge, Virginia is on a mission to mobilize trained volunteers to play a role in aiding victims of the devastating Category 4 Hurricane Ian.
The ministry updated its 36,000 followers on social media stating, “God is moving in the midst of this disaster in Florida. We’re serving 3 meals a day with 1,000s of people coming for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Tractor-trailer trucks of supplies are dropping off supplies every day. Electricity is still out for many. Tap water is not drinkable and yet there is hope. Our Mobile Hope trailer is here bringing worship and prayer and people’s basic needs are being met daily!”
The ministry is focusing on mobilizing relief workers trained to deploy to the crisis, avoiding what the relief org has coined “the second disaster” referring to the ensuing chaos when people with no training show up to help. The ensuing chaos of untrained volunteers with no skills or specific training for what can be very stressful situations can be almost as bad as the original disaster.
So far, the strategy has been working. “It’s been absolutely amazing… When we hit the ground, we were running, jumped right into lunch, and jumped right into dinner. serving three meals a day right now, serving thousands of meals a day, and growing. Serving meals, and boxing meals, have seen an amazing partnership with Christian Life Fellowship in Cape Coral,” said co-founder Sean Malone in a recent video update.
The ministry has provided three meals a day to those in need along with ministering to those in need.
Meanwhile, CRI has another team deployed for their 13th Wave into Ukraine, focused on rebuilding homes for the poor, orphaned, and widowed population in Ukraine.