Local churches extend aid to tsunami victims

Many times, when tragedy strikes, there is a huge outpouring of empathy showing the better side of humanity.

Whether the disaster occurs in the United States or overseas in a foreign country, the efforts to assist those in need oftentimes have a snowball effect that reaches unimaginable places. Even Marshall and Saline County. Such is the case in relief efforts of the earthquake-tsunami catastrophe in Asia.

Karen Gordy-Panhorst, director of communications for the Missouri Conference of The United Methodist Church, and Gary Morrow, state director for the Southern Baptist Church Disaster Relief Unit, based in Marshall, are just two of the people locally, statewide and throughout the U.S. helping to make a difference half a world away.

Gordy-Panhorst, who works out of Columbia, urged people in Marshall and across the state to assist in donating to the relief efforts in any way they can.

"This is a permanent fixture of the Methodist church," Gordy-Panhorst said. "We do relief work wherever it's needed throughout the world. One hundred percent of any donation goes to the relief work. If you want to make a donation, just take it to your local Methodist church, and you can rest assured that every penny will be put to the relief efforts."

Morrow, a Marshall resident who has been involved in disaster relief work for over a decade, said that no matter where tragedy occurs, people should help out whenever they can, and many of the residents in Marshall are quite equipped to do so.

"Everyone has different skills and abilities and they should use them to help out, and we've got plenty of trained volunteers here in Marshall." he said. "At the Southern Baptist churches, we're looking at helping out with the water purification over there. We're trying to get those units transported, or build new ones over there. We prepare food for the Red Cross and Salvation Army and we travel all over the world."

Gene Page, pastor of North Street Methodist Church in Marshall, is another person who is helping the victims of the Dec. 26 tidal waves that have left over 114,000 dead and millions homeless.

"We try to contribute and send help in various ways," Page said. "In general, folks in the church want to help out those in need. We pay what we call, 'monthly apportionments' and they help out in a lot of ways. Some of the money goes to administrative costs, so when there is a need for disaster relief assistance, administrative costs don't need to be paid and that money can go to help out the victims."

Page also urged the residents of Marshall to share their resources in any way possible. "Make a contribution wherever you can, because there's obviously a great need," he said.

Crescent Electric, which is headquartered in Dubuque, Ill., but has a local office here on Miami Avenue, is also making a difference thousands of miles away. The company has offered to match any customers' donation.

Dick Schmid, vice president of marketing for the company, said, "We've committed $20,000 and we're looking for a way double that to $40,000. This seemed like a good way to accomplish a couple of things at one time. We wanted to help as a company and by offering the matching contributions process, we're giving our customers a pretty simple and efficient process to also be able to be good corporate citizens of the world."

Local Crescent manager Keith Brumbaugh, agreed with Schmid. "I'm proud our company can help in any way," he said. "I think anything any of us can spare, is a good thing, and we should help out as much as possible."

Contact Eric Coley at

marshallfaith@socket.net