After Hurricane Harvey decimated the Houston area, we received help from thousands of people and hundreds of churches and associations across the country. Now it’s our turn to help those affected by a devastating storm and to employ what we learned from that experience. We’re better together, praying together, working together, coordinating our efforts, and playing as a team.
Several UBA churches have already begun working in the affected areas, and I have been in contact with the associational leaders Jim Turnbo (Beaumont-Port Arthur-Orange, TX) and Bruce Baker (Lake Charles, LA) since the day after the storm hit. There are many ways that UBA churches can be involved and praying for them, but coordinating our efforts is essential.
We are gathering information now to begin long term church-to-church partnerships that will begin in the response phase and continue through rebuilding. If your church is interested in exploring such a relationship, please contact me for more information.
I can tell you that in the words of one local official, “every home and business in the greater Lake Charles area was affected in some way.” The area was basically hit by a category F-3 tornado, leaving more than 90% of the area without power and potable water. In the words of Bruce Baker, the Director of Missions in the Carey Association (Lake Charles), “it all looks the same. If you’ve seen one picture, you’ve seen the whole area.”
QUICKEST WAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Without question, the quickest way to make a difference is to make a financial contribution. Disaster relief organizations purchase supplies months in advance so that they can be supplied and ready when a storm happens.
UBA is in direct contact with the association in Lake Charles, LA, and they are buying supplies on a daily basis. Here are three places you can make a financial contribution that will directly impact those who are hurting in the affected area:
UBA (designate for disaster relief)- everything will be sent to the Carey Baptist Association (Lake Charles, LA)
GATHERING SUPPLIES
There are a lot of lists going around detailing what is needed, but if you can focus on these things, I’ve been assured by my counterpart in Lake Charles these are the highest priorities:
Bottled water
Personal hygiene items
Non-perishable food
Baby items (food/formula, diapers, wipes)
FBC Seabrook has also agreed to receive supplies, Monday-Friday from 9-4, and will send a truck over almost every day directly to the association in Lake Charles. If assistance is needed unloading the donations, please call ahead.
Houston Responds has a more robust supply list here. Their distribution sites are all over town where supplies can be dropped off and they will be taken to the affected areas and given to a wide variety of partners listed on the HR website.
Please do not collect perishable food items, clothing, toys, bedding, or furniture.
VOLUNTEERING
Please understand that the current situation (as of September 1, 2020) in the area around Lake Charles is primitive. Most of the area has no electricity and no prospect of electricity for 3-4 weeks. There is no running water in many places and no gasoline in many places. Temperatures are very hot.
The main work to be done is construction-oriented, debris clearing, chainsaw work, and “blue-tarp” covering holes in roofs. There is really no infrastructure to support volunteers, and so while volunteers are badly needed, they must be self-sufficient (even bringing your own water) and willing to endure difficult conditions.
If your church wants to deploy self-sustainable teams, please contact Josh to coordinate with the places of highest need and get the most updated information.
If your church has individuals that want to go volunteer as part of the structure that is in place, the volunteer number for the Southern Baptist disaster relief command center is: 501-258-6411.
INFORMATION
As we know all too well, information regarding a disaster changes frequently. Please contact UBA for the latest information and stay connected to our social media channels for updates.
#BetterTogether
Josh Ellis is Executive Director of Union Baptist Association. He has a PhD in Leadership Studies and has served on the UBA staff since 2005. With both practical and scholarly knowledge, he leads the association into innovative collaboration for the sake of strategic gospel advancement.
Of all the named storms in 2020, only one briefly touched Florida, while four have hit Louisiana. Churches must rise up to address gaps in the system. Our friends in Lake Charles specifically need our help still, so here are some updated ways to serve them.