WASHINGTON – As the U.S. prepares to send aid and troops to help fight the Ebola virus in West Africa, churches in the D.C. metro area are lending their support – – and they’re asking for the public’s help.
The World Health Organization says the outbreak will likely get worse before it gets better. So the St. David’s Episcopal Church in Ashburn, Virginia is chipping-in to send medical and food supplies to Liberia.
Rev. Mary Kay Brown says they are hosting a special service Saturday at 5 p.m. to pray and donate essential items. “Simple things like bleach, Clorox wipes, gloves, and canned food. Anything that can help with the treatment and prevention of spreading Ebola.”
People of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome “not only to this service, but to any service and to our table. Prayer is a powerful tool and although we can’t do everything, together we can do something important. I would say if you have a heart to help, come,” Kay says.
The church has done mission work in Liberia in the past.
“We have a significant part of our congregation who are from Liberia or have connections there,” Brown says. “We supported a school for girls outside of Monrovia called the Bromley School. We have sent people there to work on restoring the campus, build a new playground, and supply a science lab.”
A list of goods to bring include:
- Clorox products
- Rubbing alcohol
- Hand sanitizers
- Gloves
- Rain boots
- Nutritional drinks – Boost, Ensure, Gatorade
- Tylenol
- Plastic spray bottles
- Plastic buckets
- Rice
- Canned foods: Spam, sardines, mackerel, salmon, corned beef, tuna
- Financial donations can be made out to St. David’s. Memo line: Liberia Ebola donation
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