Scientology Volunteer Ministers help in Florida Twister Aftermath

I just saw this on Ocala.com -- a Florida e-zine:

Volunteers carry the cross from the rubble of the Lady Lake Church of God in Lady Lake on Saturday.

LADY LAKE - Norma Acabeo looked ashamed as she asked rescue volunteers for a few more blankets and a toothbrush. She looked disoriented and was still in disbelief.

"We've worked so hard for everything. We've never had to ask for anything," Acabeo told a Church of Scientology volunteer minister, her shoulders shivering. Across the street, her son's mobile home in the Spencers Loop neighborhood, lay in shambles.

"He works like a dog for everything he has and look at what he has now," said Acabeo, pointing toward her son Bob Keown's home.

Deadly twisters early Friday morning tore through area neighborhoods and claimed 20 lives. Acabeo and her son were lucky. Instead of worrying about funeral arrangements, they were left picking up the pieces. Just down the street, their 17-year-old neighbor Brittany May wasn't so fortunate - a tree crushed her as she lay in bed.

Emotions ranged from one extreme to another in mobile home parks in Lady Lake and upper-middle-class retirement neighborhoods in The Villages. Storm survivors were upset, but at the same time optimistic.

"Despite our house being destroyed .Ê.Ê. if you look around there are at least eight people, volunteers, friends and neighbors who have come in and helped us with our furniture," said Al Seiden, who lives in The Village of Poinciana. "This has been fantastic. The spirit of community here is unbelievable."

In the background, neighbors - whom Seiden hadn't even met before the storm tore the roof off his house - picked up debris. White insulation inside the home looked like fluffy snow.

Outside, dozens of Community Emergency Response Team volunteers walked the streets, chatting with residents and offering water and hot dogs. Without the torn-up homes, the scene would appear like a casual block party.

A dozen Church of Scientology Disaster Response Team volunteers comforted residents.

"We've been to a lot of disasters," said Judy Fagerman, volunteer minister coordinator of the response team [from the Church of Scientology of Tampa]. "We come out, find out what the needs are and help the residents the best we can.  And sometimes all they need is a shoulder to cry and lean on."

References:

• Scientology Disaster Response Team
• Scientology Volunteer Ministers in Tampa, Florida
• Volunteer Ministers - from presentation by Mr. David Miscavige
• Ocala.com - news in Central Florida
  

technorati tags:scientology, volunteer ministers, tampa, florida, twister

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