Endeavor to be Better team cleans up flood damaged homes in Merritt.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Mark Nendick
December 15, 2021 - 7:30 AM
A hardworking group in Merritt has been getting cold and dirty helping residents who are still scrambling to save their homes that were flooded last month, and more help is needed.
Some homes were under several feet of water resulting in heavy mud deposits, ruined furniture and destroyed valuables. With temperatures dropping and snow falling, the cleanup job is getting more unpleasant.
READ MORE: Merritt flood evacuees begin arriving in Kamloops
Mark Nendick is the coordinator at Endeavor to be Better, a program that helps people with meals, life-skills and employment opportunities.
The program typically serves 55 clients, although some are still displaced in surrounding cities. Last week, program operations shifted to address the flooded housing crisis.
“Staff and clients are now going out to help clean up houses and damaged properties every day,” Nendick said. “Some residents have been working to clean their homes for days, they need help, and there is so much left to do.”
An Endeavor to be Better team member cleans flood damaged home in Merritt.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Mark Nendick
Nendick said the work is tough, dirty and gross. Soaked drywall needs to be removed and ruined items hauled into piles for pickup.
READ MORE: Merritt residents are scrambling to save their flood ravaged homes
His full time team of workers is fewer than ten, and hundreds of helpers are needed at this time.
“We need more bodies, we need more hands,” he said. “Donations are wonderful but we really need the hard work to be done. Residents are still scattered about, living with friends or in motels while they try to make their homes live-able. This could take several months.”
Nendick said his team has completed work on a few houses and moved onto others. They do not intend to stop until everyone has been helped. He said there is a need for experienced people to do drywall and paint.
“We need professionals to help with safety assessments,” he said. “Our team does not have knowledge about mold or sewage, we do it anyway because it is what you do in a crisis. If you dress appropriately and wear masks, it is better.”
An Endeavor to be Better team member cleans flood damaged home in Merritt.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Mark Nendick
Nendick said his house was not damaged by the flooding, giving him more freedom to assist others.
“My wife and I came back from evacuation and the community was a disaster,” he said. “Some houses had floated away, basements were flooded. A lot of people’s flood insurance didn’t go through. It is tragic.”
READ MORE: 'We knew this would happen': Merritt resident raised alarm on Coldwater dikes
Nendick has experience in wellness coaching, and after overcoming mental health issues and alcoholism years ago, seemed a good fit to run the Endeavor to be Better Program. Normally it is a day program that is open all day, all week and provides food and a safe place for those who are sober or recovering.
“We provide a work experience program where we do landscaping and community cleanup,” he said. “We do fun activities to keep people busy. Coaching people who want to be coached is different than coaching someone in the middle of addiction, but it is a rewarding and meaningful role.”
With every able body currently being directed to cleanup, Nendick said he is impressed the effort and dedication he is seeing.
“We pay our workers minimum wage to help supplement what income assistance they might be on,” he said. “Some have never had a job before. They generally have very, very little, yet they give the most.”
A gofundme is set up to help the residents of Merritt rebuild.
If you can spare some volunteer hours to help with the cleanup efforts, contact Mark Nendick at 250-682-6275.
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