Volunteers present Marlene Ackerman with a Bible after cleaning out her flooded home.

A Helping Hand

Volunteers are willing to do the “dirty work” to bring aid and comfort to people affected by the Midwest floods

Multimedia report → NewsBlog →

Marlene Ackerman never imagined water from the Cedar River would reach her home. Since she moved in nearly 32 years ago, her Cedar Falls residence had never once been flooded. It had remained untouched during what area residents call The Great Flood of 1993. Nevertheless she moved her artwork to higher ground, loaded up her dog, and drove to a friend’s house when heavy rains pushed the river over its banks.

Samaritan’s Purse writer Leah Lohse recounts her experiences covering our flood relief in the Midwest. Click here to read her blog.

When she returned home the next day, her basement was completely flooded and several inches of water had made its way up the stairs to the main level.

Her personal library, which contained books she had begun collecting in junior high, was completely ruined. World War II books her late husband had treasured were soaked, and the piano in the room had been thrown against the staircase and was filled with mud.

When a group of 12 teenagers and four adult leaders working with Samaritan’s Purse showed up at her home on Monday morning, Marlene was overjoyed.

“This is phenomenal,” she said. “There are no words to even express this. It’s just so nice.”

The group of student and adult volunteers from Core Youth Ministries in Manchester, Iowa, had planned to spend the week in Ohio building homes for the elderly. But when storms continued to sweep across Iowa and rivers swelled their banks, youth director Andi McCurdy-Savago knew staying closer to home was the right thing to do.

“Mother Nature kept unleashing her fury on Iowa, and I thought how can we go to Ohio when there are so many people here who need help,” Andi said.

The group has spent the last several days doing lots of dirty work, mudding out homes and cleaning up debris.

“Our volunteers are amazing,” program manager Todd Taylor said. “These volunteers will do things we can’t pay people to do.”

The group presented a Bible, signed by each member, to Marlene before leaving the site.

Sixteen-year-old Amber Moorman said the experience has helped her to see the value in reaching out to others in times of need.

“I’m really glad I can help,” she said. “Even if it’s only doing little things, like dumping stuff in a pile.”

This is the worst flooding ever experienced by many areas across with Midwest, with some rivers reportedly cresting nearly 20 feet above flood stage. Tens of thousands of people in six states have been forced from their homes.

In this critical time, Samaritan’s Purse is responding. We have Disaster Relief Units—mobile command centers carrying relief equipment and supplies—in Iowa, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Our staff and volunteers are removing mold-infested carpet and drywall from homes, and sealing the remaining structure to prevent mold from returning.

More volunteers are needed to help homeowners salvage their possessions and save their houses. If you are able to work with us in Iowa, please click here.