LOUISVILLE, KY.

Members of the Louisville Kentucky Stake joined in relief efforts during two Saturdays in October to clean up homes damaged by floodwaters during the summer.

Torrential rains ravaged the greater Louisville, Ky., area on August 4. Widespread flooding damaged more than 200 homes in the western and southern portions of the city, rendering many uninhabitable and others susceptible to dry rot, dangerous black mold and structural dangers.

Efforts by civic and volunteer organizations began addressing immediate needs, but the work required was substantial. Over a month after the flood, more than 200 homes were still on a waiting list for assistance.

Mayor Jerry Abramson's office issued a widespread call for help and the Louisville Kentucky Stake was contacted by the mayor's liaison office to see if the Mormon Church would participate. Matt Blair of the Louisville Stake high council, who oversees welfare/humanitarian activities, was assigned the task of organizing relief efforts.

In partnership with the Metro Area United Way, the Salvation Army and the Christian Appalachian Project, the stake issued a call for volunteers to dedicate large portions of their Saturdays on Oct. 10 and 17 to help reduce the backlog of homes in need of carpet, drywall, insulation removal and sanitation treatment. Many basements were badly affected and needed to be completely emptied.

Assignments were made to all stake units and on Oct. 10, more than 100 men and women showed up at the Salvation Army and St. Stephen's United Church of Christ to receive their service assignment. The full-time missionaries from the Kentucky Louisville Mission, who were serving in the affected areas, cleared their schedules for the day to join the members.

At 8 a.m. the first wave of Church volunteers arrived and received their assignments. When the noon shift arrived, Kelly Thompson of the Metro Area United Way said she had never seen such a turnout of volunteers. The first shift, she said, went so fast through the target houses that she was running out of work for the second shift and had to scramble to line up assignments at houses for the afternoon volunteers.

She said she significantly underestimated the Helping Hands volunteers but was grateful for the attitude and effort put forth by so many. So successful was the project that Ms. Thompson altered her plans for the following Saturday to accommodate the LDS volunteers.

Two TV crews, WLKY-TV32 and WAVE3, covered the event.

Besides the clean up, goodwill was spread broadly and new friends were made. Members also learned to count their own blessings and turn outward to help their neighbors who were less fortunate.