The New Vision Depot
in partnership with
Disaster Response Ministries,
Volunteers in Mission, UMCOR and
Volunteers Active in Disaster
is available for visitation, work teams,
community service hours, and training.
March 2024: Thankfully, at this time, the Depot is not supplying relief to any major disasters, flooding or otherwise, in the Conference or elsewhere. However, the work of the Depot goes on in order to maintain readiness and training for the Conference’s Disaster Response ministries including Volunteers in Mission (#WVVIM).
Here are a few highlights from the last 12 months:
July, 2023: the Depot received several thousand UMCOR Cleaning Kits (Flood Buckets) assembled and donated at the 2023 Scout Jamboree held at the Bechtel Summit Reserve near Mt. Hope WV. These bucket kits are warehoused at the Depot and a few other locations in the state.
October, 2023 the Depot hosted a gathering of Depot “Ambassadors” and District Disaster Response Coordinators (DDRCs). The day was used for Bucket Kit assembly, training, and team-building. Several ambassadors loaded their vehicles with cleaning supplies, diapers, and school kits for distribution to Heart + Hand Outreach Ministries in South Charleston and Heart and Hand House in Philippi.
January, 2024:the Depot deployed cots, bedding kits, hygiene kits, and Testaments to Warming Centers at Beckley Community UMC and the Wyoming Charge.
February, 2024: the Depot gathered and distributed cleaning and personal hygiene items to the Raleigh County Emergency Housing facility in Beckley.
February, 2024: the Depot provided work and community service hours for four members of the Shady Spring High School Football Team and their Coach.
March, 2024: the Depot hosted the District Lead Team from the Greenbrier-Wesleyan District for a day of learning, training, bucket kit assembly, and role-playing.
March, 2024: the Depot hosted a Saturday learning and training event for 7 confirmands, their mentors, and Pastor Steve Gedon from United Methodist Temple, Beckley. The confirmands learned the value of mission while role-playing as part of an Early Response Team (ERT) in the relief phase of a flood. Personal hygiene items were sent to Burlington UM Family Services, Beckley Campus.
Disaster response ministry demonstrates a core Christian value: caring for people affected by sudden emergencies.
Our Conference disaster response coordinators help assess needs in the days following a disaster, recruit work teams, and help organize and collect materials such as cleaning buckets, health kits, and other materials as needed.
Contacts Us:
Volunteers in Mission Coordinator:
Rev. David Stilgenbauer 304-210-6938
Conference Disaster Response Coordinator
Rev. Jim McCune (304) 813-1274
New Vision Depot Director
Scott Mayberry (304) 716-1465
Prayer and Giving
What can you do if our schedule doesn’t allow you to come to the Depot for a work day? First, we continue to desire prayer from all churches and folks of the WV Conference. Second, during this post-pandemic time of inflation, the Depot can use your continued financial support.
Please use one of the following methods to help support the New Vision Depot financially:
1. Give through your local church. The church then sends the donation with their church remittance form, earmarked for New Vision Depot. Checks are made payable to Conference Treasurer and mailed to PO Box 2469, Charleston, WV 25329.
2. Give directly using the link provided below. Any gifts given through this link will not process through the church remittance system and therefore cannot be credited to a specific church or show on their church statement.
You are encouraged to celebrate your giving to the Depot and other missions at your Church or Charge Conference.
Giving Link
Local churches may assemble flood buckets, we may be asked to provide supplies to the next phases of response. For instructions to assemble a cleaning kit (flood bucket) follow this link.
For instructions on how to assemble a health kit, follow this link.
Follow this link to learn about how UMCOR is responding to crisis' across the US and around the globe!
The vision for the New Vision Depot includes working with all Disaster Response Ministries of the WV Conference in order to tailor and refine Depot supplies and operations so that timely relief and hope are provided during a disaster — natural or human-made.
We at the Depot are grateful and offer “thanks” to those who have worked tirelessly since 2015 to make the New Vision Depot a vital resource in time of disaster for the churches and all people within the boundaries of the WV Conference and beyond. We thank God for your prayers, labor, sacrifice, and donations — the Depot covenants with the leadership and people of the WV Conference to be a vital ministry component as we join together to “make disciples for the transformation of the world”.
Volunteers in Mission
is a grassroots movement within The United Methodist Church that provides a way for lay and clergy Christians to use their skills and talents in service at home and around the world on short term mission assignments.
Learn More
U. M. C. O. R.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to alleviating human suffering around the globe. We are grateful for our partnership with UMCOR, especially around the areas of Disaster Response.
Rev. Rick Duncan, pastor of Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church in Alderson, West Virginia, shares how their church is prepared for flood waters, a practice that prevented significant loss due to flooding in June 2016.
Only a few items are needed for the flood barrier: Plywood, helicoils, bolts, caulk, wrench. Plywood and bolts are stored until need arises.
"If we hadn't put these in our basement would have had 3 feet of water in it, instead we had just a skim of water." Rev. Rick Duncan. Pastor Duncan serves a church a block away from the Lower Greenbrier River.
As spring storms move into the region preventive measures such as this can make a difference! Watch the video for how Johnson Memorial UMC, Alderson, West Virginia built their own flood barriers.
Disaster Response Ministries: Responding with Love for as Long as it Takes.
Disaster response ministry demonstrates a core Christian value: caring for people affected by sudden emergencies.
Our Conference disaster response coordinators help assess needs in the days following a disaster, recruit work teams, and help organize and collect materials such as cleaning buckets, health kits, and other materials as needed.
Values
- WV Annual Conference Disaster Response Ministries provides practical, proactive support to the most vulnerable survivors of chronic or momentary emergencies stemming from natural or civil causes.
- The WV Annual Conference Disaster Response Ministries honors cultural differences. We deliver aid to people without regard to race, religion, politics, gender or sexual orientation. We seek input from local communities in identifying needs and developing innovative solutions.
- All people have God-given dignity and worth. The most essential partner in the West Virginia Annual Conference Disaster Response Ministries work is the beneficiary.
- WV Annual Conference Disaster Response Ministries works with partners—especially those who are indigenous to the affected locale. Civic organizations, faith communities, school leaders, and other local resources are great assets to sustainable recovery and development, particularly after massive traumatic events.
- WV Annual Conference Disaster Response Ministries is a good steward of its gifts and grants.
- WV Annual Conference Disaster Response Ministries does not tie the promise of its relief and development activity to any religious or political viewpoint.
- The WV Annual Conference Disaster Response Ministries professional staff incorporates best practices and standards to provide innovative, effective, and integrated ministry.
- The WV Annual Conference Disaster Response Ministries welcomes the good efforts of countless individuals and churches who support us through gifts, prayers, and service.
