Church Stepping In for Hurricane Relief
Janice McClung loads two of the hundreds of Blessing Boxes being prepared at the Operation Compassion warehouse in Cleveland, Tenn.
Excerpt from Faith News #33120
September 30, 2022–As Hurricane Ian continues its path beyond Florida, Church of God General Overseer Dr. Tim Hill has spoken with state and regional administrative bishops regarding damage and the aftermath of the storm, which landed on the western shores of Florida and is now making its way northward, affecting Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia this weekend.
The Church of God has hundreds, perhaps thousands, of families and churches in the path of this storm. The administrative bishops are assessing damage and pulling together action teams, particularly in hardest-hit Florida.
Partner agencies with the Church of God have mobilized or are preparing to assist as access is granted. Men and Women of Action and God’s Pit Crew are en route and already on the ground in some areas. Operation Compassion is shipping product to four different staging sites: Bradenton, Fort Myers, Wauchula, and Gainesville. Three semis of relief supplies were dispatched prior to the storm, with three more headed out today.
Executive Director of Operation Compassion Kelvin Page reported on Friday morning that initial stations are being staged at local churches where parking lots are spacious and there is access to large storage areas. Other sites will be added as logistics are arranged, including Wauchula, Sarasota, and Gainesville. Page encouraged Church of God families and churches in need to use these stations:
CitiIMPACT/NextLevel
12400 Plantation Road
Fort Myers FL 33966
CitiIMPACT/Bayside
2525 27th St E,
Bradenton, FL 34208
Citygate Ministries
1735 Jackson St
Fort Myers FL 33901
Greater Union First Baptist Church
240 S Clara Ave
DeLand Fl 32720
General Overseer Hill and the Executive Committee has asked for continued prayer for everyone affected by this monstrous storm. Prayer should be directed not just for those directly affected through loss of life or personal property, but for all volunteers, drivers, and those placing themselves in harm’s way for the sake of helping others.
In addition to prayer please consider donating to the Church of God Disaster Relief Fund, which recently received a boost in funds at the General Assembly in San Antonio earlier this summer, but needs additional funds to effectively minister over this coming extended period. Donations sent to the Disaster Relief Fund will be directed to assist our agencies getting to the need. To donate online, please click here to access the Church of God disaster Relief Fund directly.
Further updates on the aftermath and recovery from Hurricane Ian will be posted on Faith News as warranted.
–Cameron Fisher, Church of God Communications