D'IBERVILLE, Miss. -- More than 50 church leaders and volunteers gathered the afternoon of Monday, May 15 to dedicate the Seashore District Volunteer Center in D'Iberville. The project, begun on March 6 with the first wave of volunteers from across Indiana, was completed on Friday, April 27.

Some 256 volunteers from seven states and from more than 70 churches worked on the eight-week project built on the grounds of the Heritage United Methodist Church.

The building is a 50-by-75 foot hurricane proof steel structure. It has a furnished kitchen, washer and dryer, and nine sleeping rooms, containing 46 bunk beds built by Hoosier work crews.

From the day Hurricane Katrina ravaged the area around Heritage Church, the congregation has opened its doors to those in need of help and has served more than 100 volunteers a week who have come to the region. Sleeping on floors in Sunday school rooms and in the pews has now changed to sleeping in the Volunteer Center.

Kay Walla, Chairperson of the World Missions Commission at St. Luke's UMC in Indianapolis, who was present at the dedication, told e-HUM, "We bring to you (Hoosiers) the indescribable love and gratitude from the people of Heritage United Methodist Church and those who have been helped there."

She reported that during a Cajun dinner following the dedication, several Heritage members shared their stories and thanks for this gift.

Hearing their comments, Walla reported, "One said, 'I thought it would be just a place to sleep, but this is a beautiful building.' Another woman, who had helped us throughout the project, expressed her gratitude this way. Her home, badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina, was repaired by January however the death and destruction around her kept her in distress.

"Another 11 members of their church family were killed and over half of the congregation had their homes damaged or totally destroyed. Then she got involved in our project and began to see help bringing hope, and it got her, she said, 'Out of her slump and back to living a meaningful life helping others.'"

Those leading the dedication included Heritage UMC Pastor David Cumbest, Seashore District Superintendent Jerry Beam. Keys were presented to Cumbest, whose congregation will manage the volunteer center and welcome hundreds of volunteers who come to the Gulf Coast to assist residents with hurricane recovery efforts. Al Dalton of Indianapolis, one of the volunteer construction managers representing Hoosier volunteers, also participated in the service. Other volunteer construction managers from Indiana included Ken Hollis of Whitestown and John Street of Carmel.

Bishop Mike Coyner, who had planned to be there for the dedication, was unable to attend. His flight from Indianapolis was cancelled due to weather in Houston, where he was to connect with a flight into the regional airport at Biloxi.

There is good news financially. Gary Walla, a member of the project task force who also attended the dedication, said volunteer contractors reported this week that the project came in around $50,000 under budget, due to efficiency, cost breaks and contributions by contractors in Mississippi working on the project. At its conception, the project was expected to cost $200,000.

To date, the Indiana Area United Methodist Foundation, which manages the project's finances, has received $119,651. The foundation continues to receive funds daily and according to the Rev. Jim Gentry, the foundation's executive director, hopes to meet all the expenses of the project before summer.

Donations can be sent to the Seashore District Volunteer Center Project, Indiana Area United Methodist Foundation, 1100 West 42nd St., Suite 210, Indianapolis, IN 46208. Note on the check Seashore District Volunteer Center. One-hundred percent of all proceeds will go to this project. All gifts are tax deductible. Thank you for your generous support.

Pictures of the dedication and Volunteer Center are available by logging on to www.inareaumc.org.