Two local churches are teaming up to collect items needed for "flood buckets." A flood bucket is a five gallon, lidded, bucket filled with cleaning supplies to be donated to victims of severe weather outbreaks. Residents in the Midwest and the South have been particularly hard hit this year as major flooding occurred along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.

Trinity Luthran Church in Lehighton and Zion Lutheran Church in Tamaqua are combining forces to replenish the supply of flood buckets, which are distributed by Church World Service. Local organizations and individuals are welcome to participate. In addition to the buckets and items, monetary donations are welcome and will be used to either purchase additional supplies or help defray shipping costs.Items needed include plastic, five gallon buckets, with lids; quart or 82 ounce size bottles of bleach; scouring pads; assorted size sponges re-usable cleaning towels; 50-78 ounce box of dry laundry detergent; 25 ounce bottle of liquid, disinfectant dish soap, 50 or 100 ft. clothesline; clothes pins; dust masks; latex gloves; work gloves; 30-45 gallon, heavy duty trash bags; and 6-8 ounce bottles, pump or lotion, insect repellent. All liquids must be in new, unopened plastic bottles and all materials must be new.The buckets help families begin the overwhelming task of cleaning up after disasters.Donations may be taken to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 175 S. Third St., Lehighton, or Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Greenwood and Mauch Chunk Streets, Tamaqua.Members of Zion's will be assembling buckets on June 13, in the Goods 'N Stuff Room, beginning at 9 a.m. Donations may be taken to the church prior to Monday, or Monday from 9 to 10 a.m.For more information, call (570) 668-2180 or (610) 377-4303.