By: Abby Walker

As families continue to pick up the pieces after the devastating tornados that hit Arkansas March 31, local faith leaders are working with the Red Cross to build a stronger and more resilient community through better communication and stronger relationships.

On Thursday church leaders from central Arkansas attended a luncheon in Little Rock hosted by the Red Cross to talk through relief, recovery and community assistance for families facing recent and future disasters.

How does the Red Cross provide help for families after a disaster strikes? How long will the Red Cross provide shelter for residents who lost their homes? How can faith leaders step in to help the families they know are hurting? These were just a few of the questions broached during the luncheon.

“I just want to say thank you for what you’re doing, for the way you care for the people of Arkansas in your own capacity. Thank you for coming together and trying to help us,” said Lori Arnold-Ellis, Executive Director for the American Red Cross Greater Arkansas Chapter, which covers central and south Arkansas. “I really appreciate groups of people coming together and supporting everybody’s work. It takes a village, none of us can do it ourselves.”

The luncheon served as an opportunity to be transparent for leaders who are striving to help their suffering community.

“The reason why I’m sitting here today is because I don’t have a relationship, as a community leader, with the Red Cross,” said Bishop Fred Harris, with Life Abundant Ministries (LAM) City of Life. As a pastor, Bishop Harris says he’s seen people who need help, and simply don’t know where to turn. That’s why he, and others, hope to better understand Red Cross resources and help families connect with the support they need. “We know the Red Cross has the resources in many cases, so we’re trying to be a voice, to cut through the chase,” he said.

It’s a sentiment that Levon LeBan says he understands well. LeBan is deployed to Arkansas from the Louisiana Region of the Red Cross, serving as Manager of External Relations for Community Engagement and Partnerships in the tornado disaster response. “People who know me know I often deal with underserved communities,” he said. “I find our greatest challenge is not knowing.” But with more advocates, and more connections, LeBan hopes to inspire more unity to reach every corner of a disaster, and every person touched by it. “What we can say is that we’ll do whatever we can do to help. We just have to put the work in,” he said.

The end of the luncheon served as the start of that work towards connection for some. Like Charles Perkins from Disciples of Love Ministry, who says knowing the resources available through the Red Cross brings a breath of fresh air and renewed hope that he can better help those in his community who he’s seen affected by the recent storms.

Knowing there’s help available to connect those families with, he says, is ‘just wonderful.’ “I feel so much better now,” he said.