Ohio: East Palestine church at forefront of efforts to help community recover from toxic spill

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A church in East Palestine, Ohio, has been on the front line in providing long-term assistance to a community struggling to recover from February’s disastrous train derailment, which caused a massive toxic chemical spill into the air and the land, CBN News reports.

The First Church of Christ has been a center for disaster relief, hosting medical clinics and mental health clinics, and distributing relief supplies to the residents.

Many residents in East Palestine continue to suffer from respiratory illness, nosebleeds, rashes, eye infections, and anxiety over potential long-term exposure to toxins, CBN reports. A recent study found levels of dioxins in the soil between 27,000-164,000% higher than normal, CBN said.

Faced with the enormity of the situation, First Church has led the effort to provide medical-grade air purifiers to the estimated 2,500 remaining homes and small businesses that do not have them, CBN reports. The website HelpEastPalestineOhio.org is helping with fundraising efforts.

All donated funds will go toward purchasing the air purifiers,” CBN said in its report. To this end, First Church has partnered with Germ Solutions USA: the company will match donations – for every unit given through donations, a second unit will be given at no cost.

In a statement to CBN, Bob Helbeck, pastor of The First Church of Christ East Palestine, said: “Residents are leaving, businesses are suffering, and parents with young children are anxious about their health,” he said. We are hopeful that by providing more air purifiers, we will see fewer illnesses and more people will feel comfortable staying in our community.”

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