Services Provided
The following services provided by Adventist Community Services Disaster Response, serve Disaster victims, their families, and communities in cooperation with a network of Adventist Community Service Centers. Services are provided without regard to any persons race, color, language, age, religion, or gender.

1. Emergency Distribution of Relief Supplies-- Drinking water, groceries, blankets, personal comfort kits, disposable diapers, cleaning supplies, hand tools, plastic sheeting, felt paper, and clothing are provided to meet the immediate needs of families. Donations of groceries, blankets, clothing, and other supplies are accepted from the general public and processed for distribution by ACSDR volunteers and through cooperating agencies. Relief Centers are often based in community facilities such as a high school gym or church hall. At times distribution is done from Moble Units.

2. Warehouse Operations-- Inter-agency "Reception Centers" for truck loads of donated goods are operated by ACSDR under contracts with state and local governments on behalf of and in collaboration with the other voluntary disaster relief agencies and local service organizations. Volunteers sort donations, log them into our computer inventory for emergency managers, and repackage them for effective use by local distribution sites.

3. Clearinghouse for Donated Goods-- Groups, corporations, and individuals who want to provide donated good or volunteers are encouraged to "Call ahead" to ascertain the real needs and coordinate safe arrival of needed items and helpful volunteers. ACSDR works closely with the state emergency management agencies and FEMA when Donations Coordination Teams are convened.

4. Community Collections-- ACSDR works with churches, civic groups, and other interested persons to gather donated goods when emergency needs exist. This grass roots network gives ACSDR the ability to quickly generate useful supplies when they are needed. Any interested business, group, or individual is encouraged to contact us and get involved.

5. Chain Saw Response Teams-- After heavy wind storms or tornadoes, chain saw response teams are set up to clear downed trees and rubble. These groups are called together as the need arises as arranged by ACSDR.

6. Mobile Kitchen-- ACSDR is set up with a Mobile Kitchen Unit with the capabilities of providing emergency meals to both disaster victims and response personnel.

National Services-- For more than 100 years the Seventh-day Adventist church has provided emergency relief in times of disaster. Adventist Community Services (ACS) and Adventist Community Services Disaster Response (ACSDR) have been members of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) since 1971. The primary mission of ACSDR on a national level is to manage the reception, organization, and distribution of donated goods.

Other services include child care for victims of disasters, and listening posts providing a listening ear. The emotional and spiritual needs of disaster victims, their relatives and neighbors are addressed by providing opportunities for them to ask questions, chat informally or request prayer and pastoral care. Door-to-door visits are designed to provide useful information about the full range of disaster services and agencies.

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Updated June 29, 2010