Why you should become a DART Member

Sharon Brookes is a logistics engineer who lives and works in the United Kingdom. For the last seven years, she has served on our Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). 

The DART exists to respond whenever and wherever disaster strikes around the world, specialising in providing water, food, shelter, and medical care while sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

Sharon has been on numerous deployments during her seven years serving on the DART, so we were very grateful when she agreed to share a bit about her experience… 

1. Background: How long have been a part of DART? What’s your role? How many deployments have you had? Where to?

I have been part of the DART since 2017. In that time, I have mainly been involved with support roles including operations management, logistics and procurement.

I have had many deployments. Last year alone, I was in Turkey in June responding to the recent earthquake. I helped procure 700 summer shelter kits for people who were displaced and living in tents. This included buying 700 fridge/freezers plus fans. Then in November, I was in Israel overseeing the support operations including finance and logistics.

2. What made you want to be a part of DART? 

I originally started working with Samaritan’s Purse during the Greece programme in 2016 as a logistics manager. This programme involved supporting and ministering to the mass arrival of refugees in Europe who had fled the Syrian war. Afterwards, I became part of the DART as it allowed me to use my skills and experiences in many different short-term roles around the world.

3. Can you tell us about your experience being on the DART to Israel last year? Was there anything that particularly impacted you?

I was in Israel for a month as part of the DART response after the 7 October massacre. My role was leading the support operations for the programmes being set up to help all those effected by the massacre and the resulting invasion of Gaza. This included coordinating our finances and logistics, as well as organising hygiene kits, school kits, and grants for local partners to facilitate their work. 

I was struck by the hospitality and care shown to us by all the Israeli people. They were always thanking us for coming alongside them in their time of need, as well as helping in many practical ways in response to these needs.

Out of the many experiences that impacted me, one that stands out was arriving in Israel to an air raid that made the passengers run for shelters in the arrivals area. There was a constant daily threat due to the large numbers of missiles coming into Israel from Gaza, which I hadn’t appreciated has been ongoing for many years. Seeing the effects of that on the Israeli people’s mental health, especially the children, was very hard-hitting, as they regularly have to go to the shelters at any time of day or night. We also had to live under that daily security threat, whether we were out and about in vehicles, or at our accommodation.

4. Why is the work that Samaritan’s Purse does for international crisis response valuable?

It’s so valuable when Samaritan’s Purse responds to an international crisis because it’s able to use its huge DART resources of pre-built equipment, experienced staff, and planes to deploy a big response in a short time period. This enables those effected to get immediate help and results in saved lives.

5. What makes the work that Samaritan’s Purse does for international crisis response unique?

When Samaritan’s Purse responds to an international crisis, it does so quickly and is among the first on the ground. The experienced DART staff offer practical help that is relevant to the needs, such as Emergency Field hospitals, shelter kits, clean water systems, hygiene kits, and blankets to name but a few. This means that the people who are affected by the crisis know that someone cares for them and is alongside them to help practically, as well as spiritually, as we work alongside local churches.

6. As a Christian, how has being a DART member enabled you to express your faith?

My humanitarian work, for me, it’s a way of showing God's love and compassion in direct and practical ways, as well as caring for people spiritually by offering to pray for the issues that are affecting them personally. We are able to let them know that someone is alongside them and cares... giving hugs and even holding hands.

7. What would you say to someone considering getting involved with DART?

Definitely go on a training day to find out how everything works—you’ve got nothing to lose. Samaritan’s Purse really look after you. They consider your family and ensure you are well supported. I would encourage you to just go for it. And don’t think you’re not qualified—we need every part of the team to do a good job, and Samaritan’s Purse will take good care of you when you’re in the field.

To find out more about DART, click here.