|
Dear Friends,
Waiting is hard to do. But that is what we have
had to do in recent days as we prepare to respond
to help those who have been affected by Hurricane
Katrina along the Gulf coast. David Harding, the
Disaster Coordinator with national CBF, reminded
us, "We are not a search and rescue operation,
so we will wait for the all-clear from local authorities
to enter impacted communities."
Advance teams have been in the area for several
days setting up centers for volunteers. Tommy
Deal has been serving in Hattiesburg, MS since
last week. He will be back in Florida for the
weekend and return early next week.
Barry Hudspeth, the Florida Volunteers Coordinator,
has also been working in the area. Barry just
called to report on his work in Alabama. He is
working through Volunteers of America to set up
three portable units to provide health care. Pediatricians,
adult care doctors and nurses are needed to man
these sites. Contact Barry at 1-850-712-1261 or
barryhud@cox.net.
There is a need for volunteers to assist at the
Hattiesburg site for September 23-24 and September
30-October 1. Call our office and give Charline
the information if you or a group from your church
can cover one of these dates. Bayshore, Tampa,
will work September 15-17. Volunteers need to
bring their own personal items, sleeping bag,
food, water. RV's are welcomed. These crews will
assist with distribution of needed items. They
will be housed at University Baptist Church, Hattiesburg,
which currently is without electricity.
Yesterday we arranged for PASSPORT staff to purchase
$5,000 worth of needed items and transport them
to Hattiesburg on our behalf.
We will have information posted on our website,
www.floridacbf.org to help you know how you and
your church can respond. There is a great deal
of information on the national website at www.thefellowship.info.
Click on the photograph of the hurricane damage.
First responder volunteers include chain saw/clean-up
crews, roofers, mud-out crews, plumbers, electricians.
Spanish speakers are also needed.
Insurance for volunteers can be obtained by
contacting Timothy Wood at twood@thefellowship.info.
Please register as a volunteer with him.
If you cannot go as a volunteer, we ask that
you consider making a contribution to assist in
providing for the needs of these homeless, hungry,
thirsty people.
We can all continue to pray for these who have
lost so much and for all those helping them in
their need.
|
