I found this wonderful story about Volunteer Ministers being acknowledged in Florida. These are caring people, giving their time to help others.

SCIENTOLOGY VOLUNTEER MINISTERS OF TAMPA BAY
HONORED BY GOVERNOR BUSH AS “HURRICANE HEROES”

Tampa Bay, Florida - In his Indian Shores office on Thursday March 24th, State Representative Everett Rice, Florida District 54, presented four of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers of Tampa Bay with a certificate from the Governor of Florida, which honors them with his Points of Light Award as “Hurricane Heroes.”

The certificate signed by Governor Jeb Bush, Lieutenant Governor, Toni Jennings, Points of Light Foundation representative, Robert K. Goodwin and Volunteer Florida representative Cynthia Asia, acknowledged that, “This certificate is presented to Scientology Volunteer Ministers of Tampa Bay Hurricane Heroes, in recognition of exemplary efforts that not only benefit your local community but also lend truth to the belief that all citizens of Florida can make a difference in the lives of those they serve.”

Florida State Representative Everett Rice said, “We were all very impressed with what the Scientology Volunteer Ministers did during the Hurricane season of 2004.”

Over 300 Volunteer Ministers from the Church of Scientology spent some 20,000 hours during the summer of 2004 in relief efforts following the wake of Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. They distributed over 500,000 gallons of water, 500,000 bags of ice, 400,000 food packages and thousands of supplies including clothes and baby items.

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers have been responding to disasters for more than 25 years. They are active in 50 U.S. states and in many countries around the world. They have been on the scene after scores of disasters, including the Oklahoma Bombings, the California fires, the Zimbabwe floods, the Taiwan Earthquake, the Moscow, Russia Hostage Crisis, the 911 tragedy and to this day they are still providing relief in Asia for the victims of the Tsunami Disaster. Scientology Disaster Response volunteers are professionally trained to respond to many aspects of emergencies. In addition to first aid services, The Volunteer Ministers provide expertise in organizing confused areas and delivering spiritual “assists”, which they describe as simple, but powerful techniques developed by Scientology founder
L. Ron Hubbard to address and alleviate emotional and spiritual components of physical pain, shock and trauma.