Coburn United Methodist Church in Zanesville, Ohio, shelters flood victims with American Red Cross

Coburn United Methodist Church in Zanesville, Ohio, has partnered with the American Red Cross to provide housing for people displaced by last month’s Perry County floods. The Red Cross needed to relocate flood victims from a temporary shelter at the Perry County Fairgrounds, and the church agreed to help. It took in 28 people in need of shelter on Aug. 30.

Pastor Mark Raaker said the situation presents an opportunity for the community. “I think it’s an awesome opportunity for, for Zanesville to embrace folks who are in a difficult time,” Raaker said. He noted that the evacuees are from Perry County, which does not have enough housing at present, or where housing is difficult to find. Some of the people have already found housing in Zanesville, and others are finding homes in and around the city.

Some of those who came to the church have found new places to live, but the need remains for many others. Tim Callahan, executive director of the East Central Chapter of the American Red Cross, said community partners like the church play a major role in disaster relief. “We couldn’t do it without them,” Callahan said. He praised partners in Muskingum and Perry counties for helping residents, adding that many of the people are from Perry County and that local groups had opened their doors to bring them to Zanesville.

Callahan said several blood drives were canceled as a result of the August floods. People can support disaster relief efforts by signing up to volunteer or by making a donation through the Red Cross website, and Callahan said donating blood would also help the American Red Cross.

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