Visitors come to volunteer
Published 11:32 am Thursday, September 7, 2017
NEDERLAND -The Gospel of Matthew 25:35-36 reads: “For I was hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.”
The people of the Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief have taken these words to heart. This week they have been cooking and serving food to Mid-and South-County residents at First Baptist Church of Nederland who are recovering from Hurricane Harvey.
Team Leader Steven Reavis said their crew works in conjunction with the American Red Cross. They cook the food, and the Red Cross takes it out to the community.
“The Red Cross buys the food, and we give it back to distribute,” he said.
They also conduct a drive-through at the church where meals are served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 to 6 p.m. daily. Wednesday, a line of cars wound around the block, as passengers waited for meals.
The team cooks 20,000 meals a day for both serving times.
The meal consists of meat, a vegetable, fruit, a cookie, bread and a bottle of water, served twice a day.
Reavis arrived in town on Saturday. The majority of the workers are from North Carolina, 125 of them, and they arrived Monday to set up for business. Their first big day was on Tuesday.
Volunteers serve all over the country. One woman said she was away from home from June until Christmas last year.
Disaster Relief also has three crews working in Port Arthur, cleaning the muck out of people’s houses and spraying to kill mold.
Those who need the cleaning services can register at the intake center at First Baptist Church of Nederland. Residents may call 919-459-5682 for information, but not to register.
“We’ll be here until services are restored and people don’t have a need for hot meals,” Reavis said. “We’re glad to be here and share the love of Jesus.
“Texas helped North Carolina before.”