MORRISTOWN, N.J., March 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — This Easter, hundreds of Superstorm Sandy victims in Staten Island will receive an "Easter surprise" to help with their ongoing recovery. Liquid Church of New Jersey is sending hundreds of volunteers to help struggling homeowners with spring clean-up, landscaping, and a variety of exterior projects.
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New York City officials recently reported hundreds of buildings are still without power and heat or uninhabitable. Contractors have completed repairs on over 1,200 structures so far, but work has yet to begin on more than 600 homes needing repair.
The Morristown-based non-denominational Christian church previously mobilized 2,300 volunteers on Thanksgiving weekend to "muck out" storm-damaged homes across the Midland Beach section of Staten Island and serve Thanksgiving dinners to families in need. On March 30 and April 6, the church will send 350 volunteers back to help with additional projects in partnership with New Hope Church, which has coordinated efforts during recent months.
"Easter is about the renewal of all things, and we want to help our Staten Island neighbors rebuild their lives," said Tim Lucas, Lead Pastor of Liquid Church. "Hope is the most important building material for the human heart, and it's our privilege to lock arms with our NY neighbors this Spring."
Because insurance and contracted work to date has been responsible for structural and interior work, volunteer teams from the church will begin work on exterior projects on hundreds of homes including debris clean-outs and landscaping. Teams of skilled workers will complete additional projects for homeowners identified by advance teams in the neighborhood this past week.
In addition, on April 5, 200 volunteers will renovate facilities at the Fellowship Deaconry in Basking Ridge, NJ during a 24-hour "Extreme Makeover" session. The not-for-profit retreat and conference facility temporarily housed families impacted by Hurricane Sandy who were displaced from their homes. Volunteers manning continuous shifts will gut out, refurbish and install flooring, fixtures and furniture.
"While life has moved on for many in our region, hundreds of families are still stuck in the grind of a slow recovery. This Easter, we want to let families impacted by Sandy know that they haven't been forgotten by God or His people," said Lucas.
ABOUT LIQUID CHURCH
Liquid Church is one of NJ's fastest-growing Christian churches. Founded in 2001 by Lead Pastor Tim Lucas, the church's vision is to "take church to the people" with campuses in Morristown, New Brunswick, and Nutley. Nearly 2,500 people experience Liquid's worship services each weekend in New Jersey and around the globe through Church Online. As a part of its global outreach Liquid provides clean drinking water to the poorest of the poor with dozens of completed projects in Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Haiti and El Salvador. Details available at: http://www.LiquidChurch.com
For members of the media: Online pressroom at www.liquidchurch.com/media/easteroutreach Contact Rich Birch: Email 908-312-0003 or Kenny Jahng: Email 973-500-8536