Timonium Woman to Aid Relief Efforts in South Sudan

Linda Tice believes it’s her time to give back and she’s doing it in a big way.

Tice is a member of Disaster Aid USA—a non-profit organization, which provides non-medical, non-food aid to survivors of natural and man-made disasters. Disaster Aid USA, founded in 2010, is newest of four countries representing Disaster Aid International.

The Timonium resident is leaving for a two-week mission in January to the Republic of South Sudan along with three other members of her Disaster Aid Response Team (DART).

The civil war torn Republic of South Sudan is the newest country recognized by the United Nations as of July 9, 2011. But more importantly, the country needs help.

“They’ve come back and there is nothing there for them,” Tice said of families she will be providing shelter for. Tice’s team will distribute 410 Disaster Aid kits, composed of tents, tools and supplies for rebuilding the impoverished nation one village at a time. (See video for details.)

“I believe that we have different gifts at different times,” said Tice, the mother of three and grandmother of nine. “Sometimes we have more money than time. Sometimes we have more time than money. We’re meant to give what we have when we have it.”

Tice’s team will select the families and sites in need of the tents and put people to work in constructing villages.

“Get the local people involved,” Tice said. “You hire local people when you can. You want to put them to work. … It’s not just disaster aid. It’s an international humanitarian principle.”

Tice said she was “struck” by a Disaster Aid presentation given at a Rotary Club district conference in April. At 66 years old, Tice said the time for her to give back was “perfect.”

“I said I’m going to do that,” Tice began. “I really want to do that. I just felt that like it’s just my time. I feel like I’m in the perfect position where I have more flexibility, I’m young enough and strong enough that I can do it, but old enough that I have a little more flexibility with my time.

“This is something I can do. I can make a difference,” she concluded.

Disaster Aid International has provided relief to countries, such as Pakistan, Haiti and Kenya. Tice’s deployment will be second time the organization has been to the Sudan.

“The basic idea is to raise money to buy the Disaster Aid kits and distribute them to people in need. The need varies. The cause of the need varies–flood, earthquake, volcano,” said Conrad Fleck a Disaster Aid USA director.

“I imagine that the impact on the family that receives one of our kits is very substantial,” Fleck said. “To have a place to call home means a lot to any of us, I think. Will it change the course of human history? Probably not for that one family. On the other hand, if enough people care enough to help those around the world who are not as well off…” 

Tice works as a certified (award-winning) financial planner at PSA Insurance and Financial Service in Cockeysville where she hosted an open house fundraiser for Disaster Aid USA on Friday. (.)

Additionally, Tice was certified as a personal trainer in the last year—fitness being a prerequisite for the mission. 

“I think most all of us have that feeling that we'd like to do more. It just struck me as, ‘this is my time.’ If not me, who?  If not now, when?” Tice said. “I feel pretty damn good. If I don’t do it now, when am I going to do it.”