RICHMOND — Virginia Baptist disaster relief units are on the field in Texas following Hurricane Ike, reported Terry Raines, coordinator for mobile missions and disaster relief for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board.
BP photo by John R. Kennedy
Communities like this one are inundated with floodwaters across the Gulf Coast.
“Our two Class C feeding units (which are capable of providing 15,000 meals a day), two shower units, one 50 kilowatt generator unit, four crisis care chaplains and field leadership for all are now on the ground,” said Raines. “The location of our operation is Liberty — a town of approximately 8,000 people midway between Houston and Beaumont.”
The first meal prepared by the feeding unit was Sept. 16, said Raines. “Because the American Red Cross's emergency response vehicles that typically deliver the meals have yet to arrive at the site, the first few meals will be served to walk ups and/or in the fellowship halls of local churches,” he added.
Approximately 100 VBMB disaster relief volunteers are currently involved in the operation.
Liberty city officials anticipate the power being off for six to eight weeks, “so this could be a fairly lengthy response,” Raines said.
Additional trained feeding unit volunteers are needed for the second and third service periods: Sept. 23-Oct. 5 and Oct. 4- 14. Interested persons should contact VBMB staff member Alice Rusher at alice.rusher@vbmb.org.
“Many thanks to all in our Virginia Baptist Resource Center family who have helped with this response and to all who have been patient with our hustle, mess and noise in the hectic days of getting the response started,” said Raines.