The Merge

New Mexico State University students are being asked to help fill the void left in disaster relief areas during the upcoming holiday season.

Leo and Cathy Pennington, trainers for the Baptist Convention of New Mexico, were in Las Cruces Sept. 22 to train volunteers to work with the New Mexico feeding unit stationed in Slidell, La. Volunteers in a feeding unit prepare and serve meals to victims of disasters.

The BCNM is c sending units of 10 volunteers a week to Slidell, but they hope to increase that number to 15. "We're feeding about 15,000 meals per day," Leo Pennington said. Increasing the number of relief workers would "make sure everyone gets enough of a break."

Pennington said they especially need student volunteers to work during the Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks. He said worker shortages occur during the holidays because "older volunteers don't go during those times."

Sylvia Chacon, an NMSU student and educational assistant at Camino Real Middle School, said she plans to volunteer with her daughter and granddaughter during winter break.

Chacon's daughter, Lorena Ancira, said they plan to go to Louisiana in December in order to help during the slow times. "Everyone's going at once, what happens down the road? This could be going on for years," she said.

The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is the second-largest disaster response organization in the United States. As of Sept. 29, the SBC has sent over 60 thousand volunteers and has prepared over 4.97 million meals for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Cricket Pairett, a staff member of the BCNM in Albuquerque, said additional relief workers will be needed to feed people, and to help with clearing debris and rebuilding the affected areas in both Louisiana and Mississippi. She also said that qualified child care workers are needed in the states impacted by the hurricanes.

Pennington stressed volunteers for the BCNM did not have to be Baptists, and the Southern Baptist Convention is looking for anyone willing to give their time. However, he said, they are looking for workers who are trained to help with the feeding unit.

"Only one third of each team can be untrained volunteers," Pennington said. A general training for the feeding unit is scheduled for Oct. 8 in Albuquerque, but he said trainers would come back to Las Cruces if there were at least 25 people wanting to go.

Prospective volunteers are asked to plan for at least 11 days of work. Four days would be spent going to and from the site, and seven days would be spent working in the field. Workers would have to show they have current hepatitis A, tetanus and diphtheria shots before receiving an assignment.

The BCNM covers all the costs to get workers to the site and back, including motels and gas. However, volunteers are asked to bring money to help pay for their meals to and from the disaster site.

Those who want to help but cannot take the time to volunteer are asked to make donations to the BCNM, Leo Pennington said.

"With the Baptist Convention of New Mexico, 100 percent of all donations goes to disaster relief," he said. "Part of donations for other organizations goes to administrative costs."

Although the BCNM is currently stationed in Louisiana, Cathy Pennington said they have been called to help in local areas as well.

"We respond to any disaster," she said. "If you can't volunteer for hurricanes, we might ask you to go help at a forest fire." She said they have been called to feed workers at a well blowout in Carlsbad and firefighters in Artesia, and they have provided hot meals for sheriffs and police officers during terrorist training exercises.

"Our work is open-ended, based on need," Cathy Pennington said. "As long as there's a need, we'll have people there."



N E W S								Issue 15

Volunteers Needed for Disaster Relief, In-state Efforts
By Diana Lucero
New Mexico State University students are being asked to help fill the void left in disaster relief areas during the upcoming holiday season. Leo and Cathy Pennington, trainers for the Baptist Convention of New Mexico, were in Las Cruces Sept. 22 to train volunteers to work with the New Mexico feeding unit stationed in Slidell, La. Volunteers in a feeding unit prepare and serve meals to victims of disasters. The BCNM is c sending units of 10 volunteers a week to Slidell, but they hope to increase that number to 15. "We're feeding about 15,000 meals per day," Leo Pennington said. Increasing the number of relief workers would "make sure everyone gets enough of a break." Pennington said they especially need student volunteers to work during the Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks. He said worker shortages occur during the holidays because "older volunteers don't go during those times." Sylvia Chacon, an NMSU student and educational assistant at Camino Real Middle School, said she plans to volunteer with her daughter and granddaughter during winter break. Chacon's daughter, Lorena Ancira, said they plan to go to Louisiana in December in order to help during the slow times. "Everyone's going at once, what happens down the road? This could be going on for years," she said. The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is the second-largest disaster response organization in the United States. As of Sept. 29, the SBC has sent over 60 thousand volunteers and has prepared over 4.97 million meals for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Cricket Pairett, a staff member of the BCNM in Albuquerque, said additional relief workers will be needed to feed people, and to help with clearing debris and rebuilding the affected areas in both Louisiana and Mississippi. She also said that qualified child care workers are needed in the states impacted by the hurricanes. Pennington stressed volunteers for the BCNM did not have to be Baptists, and the Southern Baptist Convention is looking for anyone willing to give their time. However, he said, they are looking for workers who are trained to help with the feeding unit. "Only one third of each team can be untrained volunteers," Pennington said. A general training for the feeding unit is scheduled for Oct. 8 in Albuquerque, but he said trainers would come back to Las Cruces if there were at least 25 people wanting to go. Prospective volunteers are asked to plan for at least 11 days of work. Four days would be spent going to and from the site, and seven days would be spent working in the field. Workers would have to show they have current hepatitis A, tetanus and diphtheria shots before receiving an assignment. The BCNM covers all the costs to get workers to the site and back, including motels and gas. However, volunteers are asked to bring money to help pay for their meals to and from the disaster site. Those who want to help but cannot take the time to volunteer are asked to make donations to the BCNM, Leo Pennington said. "With the Baptist Convention of New Mexico, 100 percent of all donations goes to disaster relief," he said. "Part of donations for other organizations goes to administrative costs." Although the BCNM is currently stationed in Louisiana, Cathy Pennington said they have been called to help in local areas as well. "We respond to any disaster," she said. "If you can't volunteer for hurricanes, we might ask you to go help at a forest fire." She said they have been called to feed workers at a well blowout in Carlsbad and firefighters in Artesia, and they have provided hot meals for sheriffs and police officers during terrorist training exercises. "Our work is open-ended, based on need," Cathy Pennington said. "As long as there's a need, we'll have people there."