LaReeca Rucker
The Clarion-Ledger
From the archives May 1, 2010
Many Jackson metro-area churches are reaching out to tornado victims throughout the state.
Here are a few ways:
Rita B. Anderson, missions ministry assistant for Clinton’s Morrison Heights Baptist Church, said teams have been to Yazoo County every day this week, helping victims clean and restore the area. “Often that means protecting what is left of their homes with blue roofing tarps,” she said.
Judy Seabrook, director of operations for Jackson’s Meadowbrook Church of Christ, said church members collected enough funds to buy 25 blue tarps, three boxes of nails, and 18 flats of Gatorade.
“We took them to Yazoo City Tuesday afternoon,” she said. A group left Friday to help cut trees and serve meals.
Jo Ann Voight, of Jackson’s Beth Israel Congregation, said they’re aiding a family that one of their congregants is treating at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. “And we are helping fill up two 18-wheelers at the Flowood Chamber of Commerce (with supplies),” she said.
Javier Diaz, pastor of College Drive Seventh-day Adventist Church in Pearl, said church members have delivered more than $1,000 worth of goods, including diapers, wipes, paper towels and toilet tissue to victims.
“We will be having students from Christian Academy in Tennessee who have come to help in the efforts,” he said.
Ridgeland Family Church will take 10 to 12 members to Yazoo City this weekend to work with the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service, said Elise Wilson, a church member.
Mary Woodward, director of the department of evangelization and communications for the Jackson Catholic Diocese, said the Catholic Charities’ Disaster Response Team — established after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 — has been on the ground in Yazoo and Choctaw counties since the storm hit.
“They are providing counseling and material assistance,” she said.
Visit catholiccharitiesjackson.org to learn how you can donate online.
“The link has been sent to Catholic dioceses around the country so that Catholics outside the state may help by volunteering or sending donations,” she said. “Bishop Latino has also requested that parishes take up a special collection for relief efforts through Catholic Charities.”
Tam Mayfield, of Ridgeland’s Christ Life Church of the Highlands, said church members are accepting donations to help victims. For more information, visit christlifehighlands.org.
The Mississippi Baptist Disaster Relief Task Force is stationed at the First Baptist Church in Yazoo City, and Briar Hill Baptist Church members in Florence are preparing thousands of meals for victims and workers. Volunteer chainsaw teams from Mississippi Baptist churches are also helping.
Funding from the United Methodist Committee on Relief has been approved. Wayne Napier, Mississippi disaster response leader, and Steve Casteel, director of connectional ministries, are working to assess damage and identify places for recovery ministries. Many are already on the ground.
Lutheran Episcopal Services is establishing a facility for volunteers in Yazoo City. Volunteers will be welcomed and needed to begin the cleaning and rebuilding process.
Those wanting to help but are not members of a church may volunteer with one. Contact a local church to see how you can help with tornado relief efforts.