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Aurora Church Member Had 6 Family Members Die From Ebola

AUORA, Colo. (CBS4) - A church in Aurora is once again collecting supplies to help protect against the Ebola virus in West Africa, and the mission is personal for many members of the congregation.

"We feel as a church and a community that we need to step in and do something. We might not be able to physically go there right now, but at least our donations will help," Gormah Kolleh with Christ Vision Ministries Church said.

The church held a revival, but they're hoping more donations will come in for the next few days. A majority of the donations is medical supplies from Denver Health. Masks and disposable gowns are inside bags. Church officials say they're some of the most needed supplies in Liberia.

"Hospitals are rejecting people because they don't have the proper equipment and stuff to take care of them," Kolleh said.

One member of the church has had six family members die from the disease. That's just one of the many reasons they're taking up the massive collection of items to be sent back to Liberia.

It's estimated there are 3,000 Liberians in Colorado. One of the hardest parts of the epidemic is talking to family members at home where the death toll isn't just a number, it's names of friends and family.

"They just try and stay out of harm's way, stay home, stay out of trouble, don't really go out a lot," Kolleh said. "If you have to go out it has to be really necessary to keep the possibility of contacting the virus low."

They're asking for anything, even sanitary wipes and jugs of bleach, which all help stop the spread of the disease.

"The situation has gotten worse. A couple members of our church have lost family members."

LINK: Christ Vision Ministries Church

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