Updated 12/20/24
Bethany is a part of the Tri-County Community Organizations Active in a Disaster (or COAD). The COAD Facebook can be found here.

The current outgoing phone message for the COAD states: "Thank you for calling the Tri-County COAD. Your Community Organizations Active in a Disaster will be glad to assist you. If you are a victim of a natural disaster in the Tazwell, Peoria, or Woodford counties and need help with debris removal, press 1 or please go to www.bethanycommunitychurch.org/disaster. If you are a volunteer desiring to help with debris removal, press 2 or please go to www.bethanycommunitychurch.org/disaster. If you desiring to donate financially, donate items in kind, or offer storage space for donations, press 3. For all other needs, please hang up and dial 2-1-1 for a host of resources such as displacement housing, pet care, and other community helps. Thank you."

We have recently upgraded some of our processes to include:
-An online sign up for debris removal. See it here.
-An online sign up for owners to give BCC the right of entry to help with debris removal. See it here.
 

Updated 3/14/15
The following information was last updated on March of 2015 as we were nearing the close of hosting volunteers after tornadoes came through Tazewell County in 2013. The info and phone numbers are out of date, but we hope it can serve as an encouragement to other churches to consider stepping into their community in time of disaster. If you are from another church and reading this page, we would love to be a resource to you as you consider your role in prepping for disaster relief in your area pre-event:
On Sunday, November 17, 2013, a tornado ripped its way through Washington, IL and other surrounding communities. Bethany Community Church has been, by God's grace, working since that time to provide relief to the community through sending in thousands of volunteer work teams/clean-up crews and arranging housing for the displaced.

Much clean up has been done. Most of the jobs now are related to clean up: clearing debris, hauling debris, putting debris in bags, mowing, trimming, moving, etc.  Many of the homeowners have good insurance and have hired contractors to do the work.

Are You A Homeowner Looking For Assistance?
Have you seen the numbers for the Tri-County area? To reach the Tri-County Long Term Recovery Committee call center call:
309-573-2658 for homeowner assistance
Hours of operation for the call center are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Voicemails may take 2 business days before a return call.  If you would like to email Bethany Community Church directly for help, please email us at NeedAid@bethanycommunitychurch.org. Please provide your name, address, contact #, and nature of need. We hope to help you!  The nature of the need and volunteer availability have changed dramatically. In light of this, Bethany Community is needing to prioritize jobs. Jobs that are from direct tornado impact (as opposed to maintenance jobs like mowing), for the elderly, and for those who don't have any family or friend support available will be put to the front.

Giving
In order to give directly toward this effort, please click on the Paypal link at the bottom of this page. For more on how we are using donated funds, go here for an update from December 2013.

Info For Those Coming To Volunteer
Information below about the dates and times we are receiving volunteers at 27265 Dutch Lane in Washington...
Still taking resevations for day workers for:
Sat 11/15 at 8, 10 (reservation required) - THIS IS THE LAST DAY IN 2014 THAT WE WILL BE SENDING OUT VOLUNTEERS.
We are sorry that we cannot accomodate other dates for your group.

At this point, we are thinking that these may be the last dates for 2014, but we will see how the Lord works in 2015 We think we can be most effective if we send a lot of workers on one day as opposed to sending so few workers on more days. Stayed tuned to this page for future announcements! 

To make your reservation, please read the rest of this info and then call the Tri-County Long Term Recovery volunteer hotline housed at Bethany at 309-573-2670 and give the following information:
Date requested
Your name
Number of people in your group
Phone number
Orientation time (either 8 or 10am)

Voicemails are being returned within 2-3 business days. Hours of operation for the hotline are 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The BCC email associated with volunteering is now shut down.

Other Info for Volunteers
Transportation
Volunteers transport themselves to work sites.

​Medical Preparation 
We recommend that you get a tetanus shot before you come (but not required) as stepping on nails without proper footwear can be an issue.

Group size 
We send out teams in groups of 8-12. If you have fewer in your group than that, we can put you with others to serve. If you have more, please be open to your group being put into separate teams in order to best serve our community. If you have a large group, it's great if you can already place yourselves into groups of 8 with a point person for each group. Thank you!

Start and End Times 
The work day begins after you attend orientation (either 8am or 10am) and ends by 4:30pm. If you have to leave early from your team's assignment, that's more than okay. Just sign out with your team leader. 

Age Requirements 
Children 14 and older can work in the affected areas with an adult... five kids per one adult. 

Food 
Through many great partnerships with local restaurants, we will get you fed. BCC has an abundance of snacks and water bottles for crews to take into the field, too.

What will I be doing? 
Right now the biggest need is for debris cleanup, but please come flexible and prepared to do whatever our community needs. There may be an opportunity to help build garden sheds that will be given out to affected families through a group using space in our barn. 

What to Wear 
Come dressed weather-appropriate, layers are recommended. We have protective eye wear, N95 masks and general materials. 

Why should I register instead of just going out by myself?
Is it important to register and get your volunteer hours logged with a volunteer organization in case a foundation or other organization wants to know details for possible donations to our community.

Donations/Work Tools
We are only accepting donations related to work crews. For the most part, we have most of the tools you need. Equipment like chainsaws and dump trucks/trailers are needed! Personal power tools could prove helpful, too, depending on the day.

Other Helps
Since our inception, Bethany Community Church has offered free counseling to our community. Please email counseling@bethanycommunitychurch.org if you are in need. We would love to contact you.

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