One man sparks avalanche of Midwest donations
from 30 churches in six states for Katrina victims

One random act of kindness by a semi-retired plumber in Waconia, Minnesota, has set in motion an avalanche of many more, rolling in from at least six Midwest states to help Mississippi Katrina victims rebuild.

When Denny Gezel asked his pastor if he thought some of his extra plumbing supplies might be of use in mission work underway in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, he had no idea that his own desire to give would turn out to be a catalyst for a larger plan.

The Rev. John Wallace of Waconia called Director of Volunteer Services for the Moravian Board of World Mission, Mark Ebert, to confirm a need for Gezel's plumbing supplies. By the time he hung up from that call he had begun to wonder if the project should expand into something larger. The actions of a pastor friend in Altura, Minnesota, made room for that possibility.

The Rev. Dave Sobek, pastor of Our Savior in Altura, Minnesota, called a friend in the trucking business in Pittsville, Wisconsin. Tom Gardner, president and CEO of Hay Creek Express offered both rig and driver.

"Once we knew we had the semi and the driver, we knew we should go for it," Wallace said.

Word went out to pastors of congregations throughout the Western District of the Moravian Church of North America in September. Requests for donations of building supplies and bicycles to "Stuff the Truck" spread from pulpit to congregation and from congregations to the communities in which their members live and work. Members from more than 30 churches in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois responded to the call.

On October 28, 2006, when the 53-foot semi-trailer pulled into the parking lot of Wisconsin Rapids Moravian Church, the Rev. Tammie Rinker said that she and other members there at the time were initially overwhelmed by the size of the empty truck.

"But then when the smaller trucks and other vehicles began to pull in bearing donations from other areas," she said, "we remembered that we weren't in this alone. What might seem daunting to one congregation becomes much more possible when we all do it together. Connectedness can be a powerful thing."

Rinker sees significance in unloading the truck in Oceans Springs, Mississippi on All Saints Day (November 1, 2006). "I think it's still a new idea to a lot of us that anyone who practices good deeds in the name of love is a saint. That's part of the Protestant tradition. That way, all of us – just as we are and in spite of our imperfections – can be modern day saints."

On Monday, October 30, 2006, the truck pulled into DeForest, Wisconsin, where more donated materials were harvested from a smaller truck trailer in the parking lot of Christian Faith Moravian Church. "There is a joy found just in being a part of mercy and love," said the Rev. Kurt Liebenow, pastor of Christian Faith, while he awaited the arrival of the truck. "Even if we don't get to see the faces of the people these donations will help, we know that we are taking part in an answer to many prayers, both here and in Mississippi."

Denny and Jan Gezel, the couple from Waconia, Minnesota, whose initial desire to give sparked the Stuff the Truck project, are simply glad the project grew.

"It would not have taken a very big truck to just take what we wanted to give," said Mrs. Gezel. "We only loaded six boxes of plumbing supplies and then threw in a kitchen sink."

Reported by Kathryn Scepanski, a member of Christian Faith Moravian Church, DeForest, Wisconsin.

WLOX, a local television station in Mississippi ran a segment on the effort which can be seen by clicking on the following link:

Stuff-A-Truck Approximate Inventory
-- Date of Delivery – All Saints Day, November 1, 2006

Paint - approximately 2000 gallons
Caulking- 3 cases
Joint compound – 29 (5-gallon) pails
Joint tape – 8 ½ cases
Cornerbead - 3 cases
Insulation - approximately 136 rolls
4 paint rollers
Paint roller covers – 1 case
Paint handles - 1 bundle

1 roll of screen
Locksets- 43
Fasteners – 18 cases
Bostitch brads – 3 boxes
1 tool box
1 box of hinges
1 box nails
1 bag assorted hardware
1 tube liquid nails
2 boxes assorted nails and bolts
8 boxes assorted plumbing fittings
3 cases hurricane clips and anchors

2 rolls electrical wire
2 extension cords
3 ceiling fans
33 boxes assorted electrical fittings
2 baseboard electric heaters
1 case connectors
2 boxes electrical hardware
4 ½ pieces plastic pipe

1 door
1 door jam
1 rigid battery for power tool
12 tubes roof cement
2 blinds
1 pallet assorted boxes marked “for Moravian house”
(contents unknown)
1 kitchen stove vent hood
1 bathroom recessed medicine cabinet

1 skate board
3 bike helmets
61 bicycles

2 - $200.00 - gift cards