Outreach
Disaster Assistance Kits
Ferncliff has a 10,000 sq ft Disaster Assistance Center (DAC) that works in cooperation with Church World Service (CWS) and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA). The warehouse is one of two centers that can receive CWS Gift-of-the-Heart kits from churches around the country. Churches closer to Arkansas can send to Ferncliff and churches closer to Maryland can send to the New Windsor Service Center.
There are two types of work for volunteers and groups at the DAC:
- Process Received Kits: Volunteers receive/record the incoming kits, open, inspect, re-box, weigh, label, strap, palletize and shrink wrap the pallets so they are ready for reshipment.
- Assemble Kits from Scratch: Some churches/donors send funds for purchase of raw materials. As these materials become available, volunteers put together kits. Each summer, campers are involved in making kits.
The nearby Fern Creek Retreat House can accommodate groups of up to 25 for work in the DAC and helping other central Arkansas outreach ministries.
PC(USA) National Hotline
Ferncliff serves as a sub-office for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) and as the office where the PC(USA)'s toll free number for volunteers (866-732-6121) is routed. The PDA Volunteer Call Center matches work teams from all over the country with one of the volunteer villages along the gulf coast or at other disaster sites around the country.
How Can Your Church Be Involved?
Kit Preparation: There are four types of kits: school kits, hygiene kits, baby kits and emergency clean-up buckets. Pick one or more types of kits that your church may want to make and then ship or bring the finished kits to Ferncliff. Ferncliff also welcomes donations of any of the components of the kits or cash donations to buy kit contents. The kits contents can be found at http://www.churchworldservice.org/kits/