Disaster Relief Volunteers Staged in Central

    Zoar Baptist Church is buzzing with activity as they host the American Red Cross and the Southern Baptist Texas Conference Disaster Relief contingent.  The SBTC has sent approximately 30 volunteers to our area to cook the food the Red Cross is distributing in our hardest hit areas.  Red Cross Feeding Manager Mike Jordan is organizing the efforts.  Mike, a disabled vet and 9 year volunteer with the Red Cross, is from Hattiesburg and came straight here from helping with the flooding in Minot, ND.  He and 40 other ARC volunteers from all over our country are here to man 12 Emergency Response Vehicles, taking food and water to the hardest hit areas.  "We've been to Orleans, St. Tammany, Livingston, East Baton Rouge, and Ascension Parishes.  Today we'll be in East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, St. Helena, Iberville, and Livingston.  We try to get to neighborhoods with no power so the folks don't have to travel anywhere, but in those areas that are flooded, we take the food to shelters and churches for distribution.  I heard that in some areas folks were being brought in by boat from the hardest hit areas."  He and 4 of his volunteers are staying at Zoar, the rest are being housed in local motels.  4 reefer truck trailers are also staged at Zoar, holding frozen food.  Another trailer holds dry goods.  The SBTC volunteers were cheerfully cooking – mixing large pots of mashed potatoes and washing pans under an open air canopy.  Tuesday the SBTC and Red Cross gave out 4,466 meals.  Many of the SBTC folks helping out have come straight from Oklahoma, where they were assisting victims of the wildfires there.  Cindy and Bear Paquette from Texas and Jane Walton from Indiana are manning one of the ERV's.  "Today we're going on search – finding those neighborhoods without power and finding out what their needs are as we give out food and water," shared Bear as he loaded boxes into the ERV. Everyone agreed that Zoar has been outstanding in their support for the efforts, and how much they appreciate the Central Community's hospitality.

    Please consider volunteering or making a donation at www.RedCross.org.