Breaking News and Updates

May 3, 2011

Thanks for your encouragement and patience as we work together at our response to the enormous need in our state.

BREAKING NEED

• McDonald's Chapel outside of Birmingham is an isolated community without much help. We have heard that 35 homes were destroyed, additional damage done to most of the other houses and at least six dead. We have identified them as one area where we will be doing extensive long-term work to restore their housing. 

• There is an IMMEDIATE need for debris removal, clean-up, supplies, and people to come and listen and talk with these victims. If you want to help right away, we need people to come (bring your own supplies - chain saws, gloves, bags, water, gas, etc) on Thursday, May 5 at 1 pm, and then all day Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7 starting at 9 am.  Mart Gray of Covenant Church will be organizing these few days of activity (contact: mart@troycable.net or 334-806-8118). We do anticipate more work days in the future. You are encouraged to be updated on your tetanus shot. 

• Please understand this is a very fluid situation, and we need workers to be very flexible. The National Guard do have check points set up in some parts of this area, so please follow the directions listed at the bottom of this email. We believe they will allow you to get right into the area, but again, we cannot guarantee no stops. 

• They are in desperate need of supplies, so please use the list below, and bring with you whatever you can. They especially need TARPS. 

• You can learn more about McDonald's Chapel in this article: http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/04/alabama_tornadoes_people_in_ha.html.  

We do not have the immediate opportunities for other on-the-ground volunteers that some groups do, but our churches have been busy in many ways.

Here are some responses you can make:

• For all of Alabama: Continuing to gather and deliver supplies. You may use the lists below to guide your help.

• Fort Payne Area: We are now able to send supplies to First Baptist Fort Payne to help the people that portion of the state. FBC will store and distribute any help you send. There is much devastation and despair there. Thanks to Pat McFadden and the church for letting us partner with them. We hope that we can also join FBC in projects of hope in that area as they find them.

• Birmingham: Shades Crest Baptist (http://www.shadescrest.org/), Riverchase Baptist (http://www.riverchasebaptistchurch.org/), Baptist Church of the Covenant (www.bcoc.net)
  and Passport (http://www.passportcamps.org/), all in Birmingham, are ready to begin receiving any supplies you might like to send for either folks in West Birmingham or Tuscaloosa. We hope to be able to give you more details soon about where we will be working. Thanks again for being patient as we work on this. We need folks to volunteer for driving supplies from Shades Crest, Riverchase, Baptist Church of the Covenant, or Passport to the locations where they are needed. If you can do this, please let us know (see contact below). Also, stay informed of what M-Power Ministries (http://mpowerministries.org/) is doing in the Pratt City area. They have needs for medical professionals to help with a clinic and they also need supplies.  

• Williams: FBC Williams now posts their supply needs directly on their website and facebook page. Chris is doing a great job with this. Please check their site regularly to see the latest updates: http://fbcwilliams.org/ or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fbcwilliams.

• Tuscaloosa: Woodland Forest Baptist (http://www.woodlandforestbaptist.org/) is our supply center for now in Tuscaloosa. Mary An Wilson assures us that all supplies will be put in places of need. Also, stay informed of Calvary Baptist in Tuscaloosa:  http://www.calvarytuscaloosa.org/tornadorelief/ 

• North Alabama: We have much damage in North Alabama. We are hoping to find ways to connect with our churches in North Alabama to either join what they are already doing in the community or create new shared places of ministry.

• Give: We are glad for you to send donations through your church or directly to us (2539 John Hawkins Parkway, Suite 101, PMB 113, Birmingham, AL, 35244) for disaster relief. There are many other ways to donate, but we certainly will make sure all of the moneys reach those in need.

Terri and I will meet today with leadership from national CBF disaster relief to organize our efforts. Teams and individuals from all about the country are contacting us to help us in some way. We appreciate these folks who very much want to help us.

Gifts of funds, supplies and service are coming and will continue to come to areas all over our state. Day by Day, step by step.

rb

Ronnie Brewer -
ronnie@alabamacbf.org
256-509-8342

Terri Byrd -
terri@alabamacbf.org
205.835.8117

Natalie Aho -
natalie@alabamacbf.org

 
 
Supplies Needed:

See Urgent Supplies Update above. 


Directions to follow for access to McDonald's Chapel:
(note, those who have used GPS have ended up at National Guard check-points and may not be granted access)

From Birmingham, exit I-59/20 at Exit 120 - marked Ensley, 21st Street, Hwy 269.
Follow 269 North out of Ensley.
Out of town approx 2 miles you will see a Dollar General on the left, Turn LEFT at that intersection, there is a red-light, don't know the road name (did notice that it changed several times).
Once you turn at the light, stay on that road. It twists and turns like a snake, but if you STAY with the centerline on that road, you will end up at McDonalds Chapel.
Katherwood Baptist Church will be on your right and just beyond it there is a road that drops off to the right.
The lime green concrete block building is where "God's Glory for Girls" Ministry is located. Also where the main hub of activity is for McDonald Chapel. Salvation Army is set up in Katherwood parking lot, but we didn't see much activity there.
The address is: 512 Quebec Street, Bham 35224.
If you are stopped, let the Guards know you are heading to Katherwood Baptist Church. 
Mart Gray of Covenant Church will be organizing these few days of activity (contact: mart@troycable.net or 334-806-8118).