Looking for hands-on ways to help people affected by COVID-19, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and other disasters? Why not consider assembling CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets and CWS Hygiene Kits? These kits are packets of essentials that make a world of difference to people in times of need. Building clean-up buckets and/or hygiene kits is a great project for a Youth Group, a Women’s Fellowship, a Mission/Outreach team – even a whole congregation!
In addition, Coral Parmenter and Brice Hughes, Disaster Coordinators in the Tri-Conference, are seeking two to four churches per Conference who are willing to store some kits for future disasters. Does your congregation have an unused classroom or little-used corner where you would be willing to store ten to thirty 5-gallon buckets for the next Midwest disaster? See the guidelines below for details. And remember, UCC Disaster Ministries continues to offer Matching Grants of up to $250 for UCC congregations assembling CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets and Kits!
Please contact Coral (coralparmenter@gmail.com) or Brice (pastor@zionuccburlington.org), or 515-450-1321 if you have space to offer, or if your congregation wants to take on a project to assemble either Hygiene Kits or Cleanup Buckets.
Cleanup Buckets – Here’s what you’ll need:
- One five-gallon bucket with resealable lid (If bucket has been used, clean well but do not use if it has held chemicals of any kind.)
- Four scouring pads
- Seven sponges, including one large
- One scrub brush
- Eighteen reusable, lightweight dry cleaning towels (e.g. Handi wipes)
- One 50 oz. or two 25 oz. bottle(s) of liquid laundry detergent
- One 16-28 oz. bottle of liquid disinfectant dish soap
- One 12-16 oz. bottle of household cleaner that can be mixed with water (no spray bottles)
- One package of 48-50 clothespins
- Clothesline, two 50 ft. or one 100 ft.
- Five dust masks
- Two pairs heavy-duty, waterproof dishwashing gloves (latex-free, non-surgical)
- One pair work gloves, cotton with leather palm or all leather
- 24-28 heavy duty or contractor type 30-45 gallon trash bags on a roll and removed from carton
- One 6-9 oz. bottle of non-aerosol insect repellent
All cleaning items must be new – all liquid items must be capped and securely tightened. Place all items into the bucket, making sure they are packed securely to avoid damage during shipment. Snap the lid on tight and seal with packing tape.
CWS Hygiene Kits – Here’s what you’ll need:
- One hand towel measuring approximately 15”x 28” to 16”x 32” (no fingertip, bath, dish towel or micro-fiber)
- One washcloth
- One wide-tooth comb removed from the package
- One finger nail or toe nail clipper removed from the package
- One bath size bar of soap in the wrapper
- One toothbrush in the package
- Ten standard size Band-aids
All items need to fit inside a one-gallon plastic zipper closure bag. Remove the excess air from the bag and seal before boxing. Do not add any extra items or toothpaste. A tube of extended expiration date toothpaste will be added to each Hygiene Kit just prior to its journey.
Assembly Events
- Adhere to official guidelines for the phase of reopening where the assembly site is located. If guidelines differ, apply the most restrictive ones.
- Adhere to guidelines for temperature checks, social distancing, handwashing, face masks and other individual and communal practices for stopping/controlling the spread of COVID-19.
- Are the workspace and everything volunteers touch clean? What surface and/or deep cleaning is needed?
- Consider whether you will add hand washing or sanitization stations at the volunteer site. Will you provide masks and where will they be kept or distributed? What signage do you need and where will it be placed?
- How will you dispose of soiled cleaning supplies or personal protective supplies?
- What if someone begins to feel ill while volunteering, and/or tests positive for COVID-19?
- Consider providing opportunities for volunteers to work individually or in small groups, and/or in staggered shifts with a maximum of three to five participants per shift.
- Consider moving your kits assembly outdoors.
Assembly at Home
- Please don’t assemble kits if you aren’t feeling well, have a fever, or if a household member is COVID-19 positive or is quarantined due to possible exposure to the virus.
- Please disinfect tabletops and other work surfaces before you begin.
- Please wash your hands thoroughly before handling kit elements.
- Please wear a mask when working with kit contents.