CRISFIELD — The Eastern Shore Long Recovery Committee and Maryland VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) continue to help the Lower Eastern Shore and in particular Somerset County with the effects of tidal flooding from October 2021.

As the calendar turns to a new year, leadership looked back at 2024 and expressed appreciation to the financial supporters which included on the ground Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS), which has provided $525,000 in grant funding.

MDS also manages the base camp on Lorie Quinn Drive, and provides a project manager, cooks and bookkeeper that cost more than $5,000 per month.

Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) has provided over $280,000 in funding, and last year LDR partnered with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Week of Compassion mission fund to provide for the salary of the local disaster response project coordinator, Kimberly Hopkins.

The New Castle Presbytery’s fundraising campaign contributed over $150,000 toward home elevations, including one in Crisfield. And in conjunction with this effort, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Louisville, Kentucky, provided a grant of $20,000.

Through the efforts of National VOAD and its receipt of funding from Lowe’s and United Parcel Service, UPS provided $5,000 and Lowe’s some $30,000 plus $4,200 for administrative support toward the goal of elevating 100 homes in Somerset and Dorchester counties.

“This has been a much-appreciated benefit,” wrote Pastor Phil Huber, Maryland VOAD chair and coordinator of agencies and supervisor of staff for the ESLTRC.

“Many funders restrict their funding to purchasing materials. Yet, to be good stewards of the funding they have provided, there are administrative costs — salary for staff to do case management and construction management and print cartridges and computers to generate mandatory reporting on the funding that was given.

“We are very appreciative of the foresight of Lowe’s in providing this additional funding.”

The recovery committee, in addition to the elevation project, is partnered with the City of Crisfield to build affordable housing. The Mid-Atlantic District of the Church of the Brethren provided an unexpected $25,000 grant and pooled with $50,000 in additional funds will go toward the cost of an additional new home.

The city donated the lot for the house and is qualifying the buyer, with MDS committing $55,000 toward construction. At settlement, the family will pay the ESLTRC for their costs in building the home, estimated to be around $120,000 counting administrative costs, and then the recovery committee will use these funds to build the next affordable home for another family.

As Pastor Huber wrote, “The ESLTRC is blessed to have very strong relationships with Somerset County, County Commissioners, Mayor Darlene Taylor and the City of Crisfield, and Dorchester County.”

In past fiscal years Somerset County has provided a total of $300,000 and this year is allotting $200,000 for the recovery effort, and “We are very grateful for this unique partnership.”

He continued, “We are very grateful to all these partners who have provided funding during 2024. They have allowed us to complete Phase 1 (building 10 new homes), elevate and repair three homes in Phase 2 and start the first affordable home in Phase 3.

“We are also grateful for all the organizations who have provided funding in previous years. They include the American Legion Post 16, Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries, Islamic Relief, United Church of Christ, Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Mennonite Disaster Service, Lutheran Disaster Response, Somerset County Commissioners, Lowe’s, UPS and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.”