Update: Samaritan’s Purse is focused on serving homeowners in Marshalltown where over 700 homes sustained damage from an EF-3 tornado. Evangelical Free Church (3111 S. 6th St.) serves as our base. Volunteers began work on Sunday, July 22. Staff, equipment, and a disaster relief unit—packed with tools and supplies—have arrived in Iowa after tornadoes ripped…
Samaritan’s Purse Deploys After Multiple Tornadoes Tear Up Parts of Iowa
“I Say Thank God for Volunteers”
UPDATE (Aug. 2): Our work has now been completed in Marshalltown, Iowa. More than 330 individual volunteers served 108 homeowners. We praise God that 19 people trusted Christ as their Lord and Savior. We are grateful to Marshalltown Evangelical Free Church for their support as our base of operations. For both weather forecasters and residents,…
Disaster Relief Unit Deployed in Response to California Wildfire
UPDATE (Aug. 3): Our disaster relief unit is in place at Redding Christian Fellowship. Our staff members are assembled. Day volunteers will begin work on Saturday, Aug. 4. We will receive overnight volunteers starting on Sunday, Aug. 5. A disaster relief unit—a tractor trailer filled with equipment and supplies—has been sent to California in response…
Hurricane Harvey Victim Happy to Be Home Again
Ever since Hurricane Harvey flooded Rodney Turner’s Houston home with a foot-and-a-half of rainwater almost a year ago, he’s been sleeping on his parents’ living room couch. A coat hook on the back of a door served as his closet. All of his furniture was ruined by the flooding, and flooring and drywall throughout the…
Finding Hope in the Ashes of California Wildfires
Guy Gonzales received a text message from his wife saying four short words: “We just lost power.” He immediately realized that loss of electricity was not the real problem, but that one of California’s worst wildfires was approaching his home. Guy rushed home, knowing that without power his wife Lebra would be trapped and unable…
Samaritan’s Purse Helping Homeowners After Flooding in Upstate New York
UPDATE (Aug. 31): Our response finished on Aug. 30. More than 140 volunteers served 60 homeowners in Jesus’ Name. We thank God that three individuals came to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior during this response. — On Thursday, Aug. 16, Samaritan’s Purse deployed staff and a disaster relief unit—a tractor trailer filled…
Hurricane Harvey Recovery: One Year Later
Rockport, Texas, resident Calistro Torres decided to weather out Hurricane Harvey, and as it made landfall he witnessed it rip through his roof, tear up his walls, churn up his floors, and toss around furniture. Praise God the 72-year-old survived the onslaught. In the aftermath, our volunteers arrived at Torres’ house to remove debris and…
Volunteers Recover Treasures For Homeowners After Fire
UPDATE (Aug. 29): Our Shasta County fire response concluded on Aug. 28. We praise God for 26 people who were saved during this deployment. We are thankful for all our local partners and for the 965 volunteers who served more than 240 homeowners. — The Carr fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes in northern California,…
Pray for Hawaii Recovering from Tropical Storm Lane
UPDATE (9:03 a.m. ET Tuesday): Lane became a tropical depression late Sunday and headed west from the islands. Please continue in prayer for those affected in Hawaii. Damage was not nearly as severe as initially expected. This is expected to be the final update for Lane. UPDATE (7:51 a.m. ET Sunday): Tropical Storm Lane continues…
Volunteer, 79, Served Hurting Homeowners in New York
When Shirley Reith’s husband died of cancer, she thought life was over for her, too. “I was just waiting for the years to pass and for me to pass as well,” she said. “I thought God was done with me.” Life changed two years ago when God called Shirley, who is 79 years old, to…