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Rapid-Response Disaster Team Seeks Area Volunteers

Matt Markgraf, WKMS

Eight Days of Hope is a rapid-response disaster team comprised of more than 3,000 volunteers across the country. They recently met in Buffalo, New York to assist with recovery after the November blizzard. They went to Tupelo, Mississippi to help after a tornado demolished the area. The organization is spinning off a new ministry in Hope Reigns, who is in Murray Saturday (Jan. 24) at Kroger to recruit volunteers. Ron Meloan and John Fuqua visit Sounds Good to tell Kate Lochte what the faith-based organization is all about and how you can get involved.

John Fuqua says, "You take more out of volunteering for this. You get more of blessing than the people that you're helping. And it's not only meeting people and helping people, it's the bond that Ron and I have, it's the friends that we've made." Eight Days of Hope (8DOH) is certified to assist in immediate relief efforts after a natural disaster strike - assisting affected homeowners in removing debris, placing tarp over damaged areas and helping contact the owner with someone to come and make repairs. One of the efforts involved the home of a 90 year-old WWII veteran whose house had a huge tree fallen on it. 8DOH helped remove the tree at no charge. On the Monday of the eight days they assisted in Tupelo over 3,027 people came to help in the relief effort, which set a Guinness Record for the largest single relief effort.

8DOH is equipped to bring a truck to an affected area within 48 hours. They are seeking local area volunteers to come out and work for a day or a week in a region that covers just south of Jackson, Tennessee to just north of Marion, Illinois. The 8DOH modified utility truck will be demonstrating at Kroger in Murray on Saturday, January 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hope Reigns is working on disaster relief certification and will be accepting volunteer contact information.

More about Eight Days of Hope

Eight Days of Hope on Facebook

Matt Markgraf joined the WKMS team as a student in January 2007. He's served in a variety of roles over the years: as News Director March 2016-September 2019 and previously as the New Media & Promotions Coordinator beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he was a graduate and undergraduate assistant. He is currently the host of the international music show Imported on Sunday nights at 10 p.m.
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