Woodbridge non-profit renews flood relief efforts

With dozens of families still in need of permanent housing after the Sept. 8 floods, Woodbridge Workers Committee is doing its best to help them out.

The WWC along with Mexicans Without Borders held a press conference Tuesday at Holly Acres Mobile Home Park to discuss the current situation of those who lost their homes during Tropical Storm Lee two-plus weeks ago.

According to WWC spokeswoman Nancy Lyall, 40 families are still without permanent shelter after the temporary shelter at First Mount Zion Baptist Church closed its doors last Friday. Many are staying at homeless shelters or with friends or families, said Lyall.

Any landlord willing to rent to families for under $1,000 a month can call 703-986-0931, according to a press release sent out by Mexicans Without Borders.

WWC, which helps immigrants with everything from English classes to winter clothes distribution, is accepting monetary donations at Woodbridge Workers Committee, P.O. Box K, Woodbridge, VA 22194. Mexicans Without Borders is also planning a benefit concert Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. at the parking lot of the new B Thrifty store near the intersection of Jefferson Davis Highway and Gordon Boulevard.

Volunteer Prince William, Potomac Crest Baptist Church and Belmont Elementary School are assisting in the WWC’s relief efforts. According to Potomac Crest church member Deanna Welch, who is also a parent of a child at Belmont, said household items like towels, linens, and appliances can be dropped off at Belmont or Potomac Crest. Those items will be given away at Sunday’s event at B Thrifty.

Those interested in donating furniture can call 910-494-3794 for a special pickup.

In the last two weeks, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors gave $65,000 in proffered funds to the relief efforts and another $20,000 to the Prince William Park Authority for housing the flood victims for a week at the Dale City Recreation Center.

A fund set up through the Prince William County Public Schools SPARKS program also raised several thousand dollars for the victims.

In a press release issued Tuesday morning, Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chairman Corey A. Stewart expressed gratitude to all those who have assisted the flood victims the last two weeks.

“These folks have been through a lot,” stated Stewart. “I am relieved that housing has been located for them. We owe a big "thank you" to First Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Woodbridge for opening their door as a temporary shelter, the American Red Cross who operated the shelters, the County and Park Authority staff who spent thousands of hours dealing with the aftermath of the destruction caused by [Tropical Storm] Lee, and the many other churches, nonprofits and private citizens who pulled together to offer a warm hand of help to these folks when they needed it most.”

Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-530-3904.