Eighteen Volunteers from Union Lutheran Church drove 667 miles to Columbus, Indiana to help rebuild homes damaged via 2008 flooding caused by tons of rain in a few hours. Columbus has a population of about 39,000. It is noted for its advance architectural design in schools, banks, churches, and other landmark structures. Homes near the numerous small streams and creeks had their cellars flooded or water on the first floor.

Union Lutheran volunteers and friends divided into teams and worked on various construction projects such as installing new drywall, spackling, painting, some 2x4 wall construction; installed new sub floors then laminated wood flooring or tile; installed new kitchen cabinets, counters, sinks, new gas stove; and installed new plumbing, a hot water heater, gas lines, and doors.

This is a picture of the team in front of Columbus Youth Camp where we stayed, cooked, and relaxed after a hard day of work.

Cabins at Camp Our Bunks--->

The response team slept in heated cabins. We had use of the dining hall, the kitchen facility and cooked our own meals. In our spare time the team played cards, horseshoes, hiked, and collected mushrooms (morels) - apparently a hunting passion this time of year in Indiana.

The above old farmhouse-type home owned by April (center) needed new sub flooring, drywall work, bathroom plumbing, construction of a closet, relocation of heating ductwork, and sprayed textured painting.

The above team spent all week working on Joe and Monica's (bottom left) home. They installed new drywall, sub-flooring, kitchen floor tile, new kitchen cabinets, counter, sink, hot water heater, stove, new plumbing and gas pipes, repaired windows, and painted.

<---Click Picture to see Video

The above team installed drywall (12 foot long sheets - Wow) and spackled 3 rooms in the basement of Dave's home.

A new living room floor was installed above.

Matt makes short order of drywall sanding with a power/vacuum/sander - Cool and no dust!

Dale, Ron, and Ron prepares one of our meals

Pastor Moore applies a finished coat of drywall spackle

The homeowner is happy with Matt, Matt, and George's kitchen cabinet install

Kevin (United Way), Jeff, and Bill installing new subflooring

Matt and Bill do the pots and pans

Spag installs tile flooring - "don't back yourself into a corner" :)

Paul and George enjoy their moring coffee

Jim always get stuck with drywall finishing - note the dust circles

Jim finds a new best friend

Click Here for 2008 News Video of Flood Damage
Click here for 2008 pictures of the Flood

Thanks to all the Union Lutheran volunteers, Dale's nephew Steve, and Jeff's brother Jason.

This Disaster Relief Mission is dedicated to Ernie Klein who passed away just a few weeks before our trip. As a professional contractor Ernie volunteered on most of our missions, he was a valuable asset to our team, and he is greatly missed. 11/14/1941 - 4/11/2009

Thanks to all our sponsors - Union Lutheran Church members, the Robert and Betty Krause Volunteer Disaster Response Endowment Fund, personal donation and several local sponsors including:

Ironton Auto body
H&R block in Schnecksville
Diflorio's pizza in Neffs
Holenshilt welding
Kings IGA
Nestle Purina
Eckroth farm equipment

Web Page Design by "Carl Gillikin "
May 9, 2009

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