7,500 Tons of Rubbish

After the flood waters receded thousands of homes in Minot, North Dakota and surrounding towns were left uninhabitable.  Before people can live in them again they will have to be completely gutted - furniture and appliances hauled away, carpet and drywall torn out and disposed.  Along every street are piles of debris, sorted into various piles – appliances with toxic chemicals, asbestos, lumber – to be hauled away.

As of few days ago the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers had hauled away over 7,500 tons of flood debris. 

Tons. 

And there is still much, much more.

At the curbside these sad piles of mud and rust encrusted rubbish smell of mold and rot and decay. They are visible reminders of the ephemeral nature of things.  That couch, that flat-screened television, they’re all just so much rubbish after the flood.  What was once dad’s favorite armchair is now a moldy heap of fabric and wood.  Annie’s waterlogged dolls are thrown carelessly atop the heap along with clothes that will never be worn again and books that have been turned to mush

But these are just things –precious thing, maybe, but still just things – and things come and things go. It’s the memories we make with each other, with our families and friends and neighbors that won’t be washed away by rising flood waters.  The relationships we forge with each other will survive even in disaster and destruction.  These are not ephemeral physical objects.  They are forever.

To volunteer in Minot visit http://www.usc.salvationarmy.org/usc/www_usc_minot.nsf, or call
701-838-8925.

Monetary donations can be made in the following ways:
-Donate $10 by texting “MINOT” to 80888 and replying “yes” to the confirmation text. A one-time donation of $10 will be added to your cell phone bill. For terms, see www.igfn.org/t.
-Or by calling 800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)
-Or by mailing a check to The Salvation Army, 315 Western Ave., Minot, ND 58701. Be sure to designate your donation “Minot Flood.”
-Or donate online at https://secure20.salvationarmy.org/donation.jsp