Southern Baptists are helping victims of an unusual and disastrous winter storm in Texas, where nearly half a million residents still have no power or water due to frozen and broken pipes.
Churches have served as warming and feeding centers, and both state Baptist conventions have begun to respond to needs.
Send Relief, the national and international compassion ministry of Southern Baptists, is partnering with humanitarian organizations Feeding America, Disaster Relief of the Southern Baptist Convention of Texas (SBTC) and Texas Baptist Men to assess the situation and help to meet the needs of those affected by the storm.
After workers at a nursing home in McKinney, Texas, contacted SBTC to obtain emergency food rations, Scottie Stice, director of disaster relief, was able to mobilize a team of food trucks to provide meals to residents and caregivers. Then the city of McKinney asked them to serve emergency services.
“They were so busy helping that they forgot to eat or couldn’t get food,” Stice said. “We appreciate the partnership with Send Relief and all of our fellow state coordinators who have reached out to offer support and prayer; it is an incredibly difficult situation and we could not do this without you. “
As food shortages continued to worsen across the state, Send Relief provided financial assistance to Feeding America’s food banks in Texas so they could avoid a larger food crisis.
“The help that Send Relief has provided through food bank donations is helping people in the hardest hit cities; it’s so much more than a drop in the bucket, ”said David Wells of Texas Baptist Men. “Our three main cities, Dallas, San Antonio and Houston, have people who have never seen snow before and are depending on us and these food banks for help.”
Supermarkets are having a hard time stocking shelves due to delayed shipments. The owners have frozen and burst pipes. As the ice melts, many houses are flooding. Drinking water is scarce. Accidents are frequent on snowy roads.
After other natural disasters like tornadoes or floods, residents can often travel to other counties for water, food, or supplies, but because all of Texas is experiencing water and energy shortages, families have no additional resources to share. The state governor has declared a state of emergency.
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Published in: DIGITAL EVANGELICAL – USA
– Southern Baptists continue to respond to winter storm in Texas
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