ATLANTA (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina will be based in Hattiesburg, Miss., and St. Tammany Parish, La., where volunteer operation centers are being established. Fellowship teams are in those areas now, assessing the best role for the Fellowship and its volunteers.
In Hattiesburg, University Baptist Church has already distributed supplies donated by First Baptist Church of Rome, Ga., and others. Volunteer coordinators from the congregation are being trained. The church has been receiving daily donations from other Fellowship churches.
Wednesday night, a truck arrived at the Hattiesburg church with supplies collected and shipped by Second Baptist Church of Little Rock, Ark.
“I couldn't stay away,” explained volunteer Roy Peterson, a member of the Little Rock church, as he unloaded the truck. “I had the opportunity to help with [1989's Hurricane] Hugo and I couldn't because of my schedule. And I've regretted it ever since. My parents taught me to go when people need help. It's part of our faith story.”
According to Steve Street, coordinator of CBF of Mississippi, churches of many denominations are helping the Hattiesburg congregation deliver the supplies to people in need. “The CBF churches have flooded us with supplies,” Street said. “They have been very generous, with more churches waiting in line. I can't even answer all the calls.”
Two Baton Rouge churches, University Baptist Church and Broadmoor Baptist Church, have been responding in their area. Baton Rouge's University Baptist is serving as a collection site for supply donations that are distributed by volunteers to area shelters. Broadmoor Baptist Church is serving as a supply collection center and housing 75-to-100 American Red Cross volunteers and three families of evacuees. Church members are also making 3,000 sandwiches daily for the Salvation Army's relief efforts and assisting two nursing homes with disaster-relief items.
The Fellowship's Louisiana relief team is evaluating needs this week.
Leaders emphasize the 15-year-old Fellowship is not a disaster-relief organization but an organization of churches that nonetheless want to help where they can. In addition to efforts by CBF state organizations in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida, many Fellowship-related churches are mounting their own relief efforts.
In Gulfport, Miss., CBF of Florida is setting up two health clinics, one for adults and one for children, said Mart Gray, coordinator of Alabama CBF. Barry Hudspeth, the Florida group's disaster-relief coordinator, is recruiting doctors, nurses and administrative volunteers for the clinics. Medical supplies are also needed.
In Bayou La Batre, Ala., volunteers from Alabama CBF are operating a distribution center for relief supplies. It is the only distribution center still operating in the coastal town, Gray said.
CBF evaluation teams in Hattiesburg and St. Tammany Parish, near Slidell, are determining the Fellowship's niche in the relief effort. Once needs are identified, volunteers who have applied will be matched with relief needs. Storage space for gifts-in-kind donations is also being secured.
“At this point, we are building a database of volunteers that will be able to respond as soon as needs are identified,” said Timothy Wood, volunteer missions program manager.
The Fellowship's expertise is in intermediate and long-term response to needs in the affected areas. Volunteer teams will be sent into the region for debris removal and other projects over the next several months.
“This is the beginning of a protracted effort that will test the mettle of this Fellowship,” said Daniel Vestal, CBF national coordinator. “Being the presence of Christ in ministering to the people affected by the hurricane requires patience and perseverance.”
Volunteers must be 18 years old, preferably with plumbing, electrical or roofing skills. Volunteers will also be needed for clean up and debris removal.
— Photos available from Associated Baptist Press. Carla Wynn is a news writer for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Greg Warner contributed to this story.