Since the March 31 tornadoes, Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) has deployed 23 recovery teams, six feeding units and two shower and laundry units. Currently, ABDR has 10 units deployed in Little Rock and Wynne, continuing to assist those in need.
Providing further aid, Texas Baptist Men Disaster Relief is set up at Second Baptist Church in Jacksonville while Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief is set up at Levy Baptist Church in North Little Rock.
Combined, Disaster Relief volunteers have worked more than 500 recovery jobs and served more than 44,000 meals.
On Monday, April 10, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC) halted operations at Immanuel Baptist Church’s City Center in Little Rock following two reported cases of COVID-19 among Texas volunteers, necessitating shutdown protocols.
SBTC shut down their feeding operations per protocol and handed off to Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief. Director Randy Garrett said they mobilized and set up a kitchen the same day. There was no gap in meal service.
“I can’t believe how responsive our volunteers are in times of need. To close a kitchen and stand up a kitchen in less than eight hours, to my knowledge, has never been done,” Garrett said. “As we all know, we have the best of the best DR volunteers.”
Additionally, since March 31, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers have made more than 1,800 ministry contacts and 232 Gospel presentations, resulting in 34 professions of faith.
Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief has a regional training scheduled for Saturday, April 15, at Central Baptist Church in North Little Rock. For more information or to register, click here.
Please continue to pray for survivors as they navigate the days ahead and all Disaster Relief volunteers ministering on the scene.