SEATTLE (ANS) -- As thousands of evacuees remain on the move and more families return to see the damage on their homes, World Vision, the Christian relief agency, is equipping and facilitating church response to assist victims of Hurricane Ike.

According to a news release from World Vision, the organization has set up a call-in number, 469-362-2665, as a clearinghouse to connect churches in need with churches which want to help others.

This week, World Vision's assessment team delivered nine pallets of emergency supplies to churches in hard hit Port Arthur and Houston's 5th Ward, an economically stressed community.

"We're seeing churches unite and rise up from their own struggles to help other churches in need," said Phyllis Freeman, World Vision's director of disaster field operation, speaking in a news release.

She added, “One pastor whose members suffered total loss, promised to share their provisions with another pastor whose church lost most of its roof in the storm.”

John Pettit, World Vision's national director for disaster response, said in the same news release, “For many people, the church represents an emotional and spiritual haven. By working through churches, World Vision has lasting power to reach people who might otherwise fall through the cracks.”

Emergency supplies have been pre positioned in World Vision's Storehouses in Dallas and Picayune, Mississippi in support of relief and recovery efforts in Gulf Coast. Supplies are also being readied in Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle and other locations where the organization has domestic operations.

World Vision said the organization is also partnering with corporations such as Cardinal Health for hygiene kits and Lagasse/Sweet, a household products company for cleaning supplies, which are critical in the initial clean up of homes.

Corporations interested in donating quality, new products should call 206.355.3598.

Cash is also needed.

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. For more information go to www.worldvision.org 

Jeremy Reynalds is a freelance writer and the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "The Face of Homelessness." Additional details are available at http://www.HomelessBook.com. Reynalds' upcoming book is "We All Need a Little Help." It will be released on October 3 2008. He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net. Tel: (505) 400-7145. Note: A higher resolution JPEG picture of Jeremy Reynalds is available on request from Dan Wooding at danjuma1@aol.com.