The Rockmart United Methodist Church has joined thousands of other volunteers extending help to the victims of Hurricane Sandy, which devastated the Northeastern United States during late October.

Church groups – from seniors to children – are extending a helping hand by providing cleaning buckets for Sandy victims. The project is part of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), a not-for-profit global humanitarian aid organization of the United Methodist Church.

Seniors on the Go, a new ministry at the church, first discussed the project during a trip to the North Georgia Mountains.

This group, led by Jean Coalson, Dana Clark and George Anna Watson, listened closely to an idea presented by Pastor Jeannette Dickens.

She suggested they vote on helping people whose lives have been changed by Sandy. They were invited to choose between health care kits, backpacks for children or cleaning buckets.

The group chose the latter and voted to collect and / or encourage other church members to get involved. They set a goal of sending 30 buckets filled with cleaning materials. The value of each bucket is estimated at $55.00. A total of 33 were filled within the last few weeks.

Youth in the church (MYF) separated and packed the buckets, which were transported to a drop off point in Cartersville by Vaden Underwood and Ron Bell.

“It may not seem like much, but when you have lost everything it is a big help,” said Pastor Dickens.

She said she has seen evidence of how such things can help in areas where there has been a natural disaster.

A few years ago, she traveled to Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina hit that area. The experience helped her understand the scope

of work involved and how storm victims appreciate everything.

Noted is the fact that multiple agencies in Polk are giving clothes and toys to children for Christmas. The local church joins these groups in assisting with these projects.

However, this year they also wanted to do something different. The cleaning buckets provide a way to help hundreds that have suffered great loss, according to Pastor Dickens.