1.) 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 receives CWS Gift-of-the-Heart kits from churches around the country. Churches west of the Mississippi are invited to send their completed kits to Ferncliff. Churches to the east send their kits to the CWS national warehouse in New Windsor, Maryland. Kits received at Ferncliff will either be consolidated and sent in quantity to Maryland or can be sent directly to disaster sites as directly by CWS.

There are two types of work for volunteers and groups at the DAC:

A. 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.

B. The DAC also has an area where kits can be assembled from scratch. Some churches/donors send funds for purchase of raw materials. Ferncliff volunteers use those funds to buy the raw material for kits. Some churches/donors give left over supplies from making kits. As raw materials are available, volunteers assemble kits.

The nearby Fern Creek Retreat House has been recently remodeled and can accommodate groups of up to 25 for work in the DAC and helping other central Arkansas outreach ministries.

2.) PC(USA) National Hotline --

Ferncliff serves as a sub-office for PDA for the duration of the Katrina/Rita response effort and as the site to which the PC(USA)'s toll free number to volunteer (866-732-6121) is being routed. The PDA Volunteer Center matches work teams from all over the country with one of the volunteer villages along the gulf coast, each capable of housing multiple work groups.

How can your church be involved?

There are four kits the contents of which can be found at http://www.churchworldservice.org/kits/ All these completed kits can be sent to Ferncliff. 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 components of the kits or donations for Ferncliff to be able to buy the kit components that volunteers can then assemble.