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mh/church.pr 96-245 Contact: David Weaver, 301-217-6530
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS ORGANIZE
EFFORT TO REBUILD CHURCHES;
DUNCAN ANNOUNCES COUNTY SUPPORT For Immediate Release: July 1, 1996
In an effort to help communities in the south rebuild African American
churches destroyed by arsonists, Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan
today announced his support for a community-based effort to recruit volunteers
to help in the restoration of damaged churches.
Throughout the month of August, local church organizations, in
cooperation with the County's Office of Community Outreach, will send
volunteer work crews to help communities rebuild the churches. Details on
work projects and localities are still in the planning stage, however,
organizers are looking at concentrating their work in South Carolina and
Tennessee.
Duncan was joined in the announcement by Councilmember Isiah Leggett,
Reverend Guy Johnson of the Goshen United Methodist Church, and other local
clergy and community leaders.
"This is one small way that we can lend a hand in the rebuilding effort
and send a strong message against hate and violence here and across this
nation," said Duncan.
Duncan has pledged the County's support for the project by providing
transportation for volunteers and use of the Volunteer and Community Service
Center as a clearinghouse for volunteers wishing to participate.
-more-
DUNCAN ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER EFFORT 2-2-2-2
In addition, Duncan is sending letters to local clergy requesting help in
recruiting volunteers, as well as letters to national hotel and restaurant
chains asking for volunteer lodging and meal assistance. The Executive's
Office of Community Outreach will assist in planning the trips and
coordinating with out-of-town communities and local governments. A large
number of the church reconstruction projects are being coordinated by the
Washington Quakers Work Camps.
Volunteers will depart the area each week on a County bus or van en
route to the designated site. Once there, volunteers will be assigned to
various work details on the construction site for two to three days, before
heading back to Montgomery County.
The project is the outgrowth of a recent meeting held on the issue of
the burning of African American churches that Duncan called on June 22. The
meeting, attended by religious leaders, law enforcement officers and fire
investigators, was organized to ensure a local strategy for dealing with this
national issue.
According to the Center for Democratic Renewal based in Atlanta,
Georgia, 80 African American churches in 11 states have been damaged or
totally destroyed by arson in the past 5 and 1/2 years. More than one half
(48) have occurred over the past two years. Since 1990, the majority of the
fires have taken place in South Carolina (26), Tennessee (15) and Alabama
(10).
Persons wishing to volunteer for the work crews should call
the Volunteer and Community Service Center at 301-217-4949. Volunteers must
be 18 years of age or older, unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
# # #
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