Helping Neighbors to rebuild and Recover

Two days after the recent flood, I had the opportunity to ride into Huger’s French Quarter Creek community in the back of a National Guard convoy vehicle to survey the damage. I was invited to ride by the community’s residents who were eager to discover what was left of their homes. They were in shock as they saw the waters had risen to record levels in the area. As we approached their homes, they came into the distant view. I sensed their hope and apprehension. When they gazed on their homes and saw the height of the standing water, they were in disbelief. There was heartbreak, gasping and crying. There was little exception to those residents who had not been affected by two to four feet of the storm’s downpour.

I was there because ECCO serves this area of the community but also because twenty-six years prior the community responded to a natural disaster that led to the birth of East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO). Formed in 1989 in the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo, Christ Our King Catholic Church’s newly arrived Monsignor James Carter led staff members to tour the immediate area. They were astonished by the loss and damage their community and neighbors had suffered from the storm. Church members were then urged to bring food and clothing to be distributed from the church. Not long after, Carter saw the necessity of inviting churches of all denominations to begin an ongoing organization to join in the effort of addressing the needs of the poor.

ECCO’s Disaster Relief Fund was set up in 2008 with the successful completion of our “Advancing the Mission” fundraising campaign. This campaign supported the organization’s growth to provide more comprehensive services for our neighbors in need, to expand the client service area in our building, and to establish a disaster relief fund. Response is our natural instinct to help victims of the recent flood in East Cooper since we were created at the cause of Hugo.

Due to the recent flooding, we are prepared to administer financial aid for those who were impacted by the disaster. The objective is helping our community to rebuild and recover. Our goal is to assist the poor and working poor restore their personal property and replace essential belongings. During the next several weeks and months we will see the needs of our low-income neighbors come forward after their lives have dried out and they discover the true extent of damage they have suffered.

Last week, we collected “Clean up Buckets,” as Governor Haley called them, which are five-gallon buckets filled with cleaning supplies such as bleach, trash bags, face masks, cleaners and disinfectants, rubber gloves, brushes, mops, and brooms. We also collected personal hygiene kits as well as towels, bedding, and water.

I ask that you consider helping ECCO to replenish and enhance our Disaster Relief Fund. Support from the community will be used towards the restoration of homes and personal property that was lost or damaged in the flood. 100% of every dollar will go directly to the working poor and elderly who can least afford recovering from a disaster.

Please send your relief funds to: ECCO - 2015 Flood Relief Fund, 1145 Six Mile Road, Mt Pleasant, SC 29466. You can also visit our website www.ECCOcharleston.org or text “ECCO” to 33923.

Thank you.