JACKSON, Miss. (Special) – Mississippi Baptist Disaster Relief (MBDR) volunteers have wrapped up two mobilizations and are currently assisting severe weather victims in the northwest portion of the state.
Hubert Yates, disaster relief director at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, said responses to tornado damage in the Eutaw, Ala., area and support for first responders activated for recent Memphis protests have been completed.
“At the request of Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief, MBDR deployed to Eutaw, Ala., on January 19 and began operations in response to tornado damage sustained on January 12,” Yates stated in an after action report.
“MBDR volunteers deployed [consisted of] a five-person feeding team, one incident manager, four chaplain/assessors, and 27 chainsaw volunteers [from] Attala Association, Jackson County Association, Temple Baptist Church/Hattiesburg, [and] Lee Association.
“Thirty-seven assistance requests were received and 23 chainsaw jobs were completed. Chaplains reported numerous ministry contacts (prayer/sharing) and three direct Gospel presentations. Operations were closed on January 23,” Yates reported.
MBDR volunteers also responded to a request for feeding resources for first responders placed on standby for protests anticipated after the alleged beating death of Tyre Nichols while in the custody of the Memphis Police Department.
“At the request of Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief (TBDR), MBDR deployed a team from X-tended Missions Network [Hernando]/LaBelle Haven Baptist Church [Olive Branch] in support of Tennessee National Guard troops and state troopers being staged at the Tennessee Air National Guard Base at the Memphis International Airport in preparation for possible civil unrest in response to the death of an individual in police custody,” Yates wrote in the after action report.
“This team consisted of 16 MBDR volunteers from LaBelle Haven/X-tended Missions, and three supplemental MBDR volunteers mobilized to support the effort. Utilizing the fixed kitchen facility of LaBelle Haven Church, this team provided three meals a day from January 26through January 30 for approximately 250 troops/troopers.
“MBDR chaplains were also provided to the troops and troopers as the meals were distributed. TBDR provided shower and laundry ministries to the deployed first responders
“With the de-escalation of the event and the onset of inclement weather, the [Memphis] operation was suspended on January 31 and closed on February 2,” Yates reported.
Volunteers from X-tended Missions Network also have been assisting homeowners in Tate and DeSoto Counties in northwest Mississippi with damage caused by the recent ice storm and inclement winter weather, he added.
For general information about MBDR credentialing and volunteering, click here.
MBDR is supported by gifts to the Mississippi Cooperative Program and donations from individuals.
Tax-deductible donations to assist MBDR are being accepted. At the present time, in-kind contributions such as clothing and furniture are not being accepted. Monetary gifts may be made by check, or electronically by clicking here.
Checks should be made payable to Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, with “Disaster Relief” designated on the memo line, and mailed to MBCB Business Office, P.O. Box 530, Jackson, MS 39205-0530.
