On Monday, March 22, a gunman opened fire at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, leaving ten people dead. Among the casualties was a police officer who was responding to this heinous act of violence. Derrick Lea, North American Division ACS Disaster Response director, has been in communication with Cathy Kissner, Rocky Mountain Conference ACS director, the Emergency Management in Boulder, Colorado VOAD, and other associated entities to discuss a plan as to how we can render assistance to the affected community. We have been requested to serve by filling the role of providing emotional and spiritual care. The local ACS team has selected some individuals who have been trained and equipped for this task. We’ve also communicated with the local Adventist church in Boulder, informing them of the resources we can provide. Additionally, we’re working with Salvation Army that has been asked to distribute food to the community to see if we could partner with them.
“While the tragedy is one we had hoped would not happen again, the reality of these type of events is hitting us with more regularity. Our continuous desire is to be prepared for these type of crisis events and also ultimately represent the love of Christ in our acts of service to those hurting,” said Lea.
Click here to read the statement put out by the Rocky Mountain Conference.
Please remember the families who have lost loved ones, the survivors, as well as those who are responding to this tragedy.