- Last Updated on Tuesday, 27 June 2023 01:06
By Charlotte Hopkins
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| Packing up bottled water for Ohio residents affected by the train derailment. |
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| John Serpa, Matt Elfrink, Jon Kennedy, Larry Hiles, Mark Rickard, and Brad Ebert, came together to deliver donations of bottled water. |
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| There were 100 cases of bottled water donated for the trip. |
On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. There were 38 cars on the train that derailed that day, 11 of which were carrying hazardous chemicals. A plume of black smoke filled the air which promptly led to an emergency evacuation order for those within a one-mile radius of the site. Toxic chemicals spilled into the Ohio River, causing water production to be shut down. Though most families have since returned, they are still feeling the effects in the air and in their water supply, causing them to continue to get sick. Some families are still staying in hotels and are unable to return home safely.
Volunteers from West Elizabeth’s, Calvary Chapel South Pittsburgh (CCSP), came together to see what they can do to help. John Serpa, of CCSP, explained that it was at a weekly Bible study and prayer meeting that the decision was made to help the citizens of Ohio. Upon learning that water was their greatest need at the time, they set out to collect donations of bottled water and on February 27th, the men took their first delivery of water to Ohio. They were joined by Matt Elfrink and Larry Hiles, of Milford Church of Christ, in Centerburg, Ohio, who made the trip to West Elizabeth to help with the delivery. Serpa stated that “with the church van and a pickup truck, over 100 cases of donated bottled water, prayer, and fellowship were delivered to volunteers at the Church of Christ.” Upon arrival, they passed out water to anyone in need.
Knowing that the problem was continuing to affect the residents they took a second trip to East Palestine on June 10th. Once more, they collected donations from residents and neighboring communities, and on that trip, they delivered more bottled water and passed out cleaning supplies door-to-door in the neighborhoods most impacted. They may be taking a third trip but that has not yet been determined.
