Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are ready to serve. (Photo submitted)
Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) is serving up warm food and God’s love to those sheltering from the cold in Benton.
Amid frigid temperatures this week and the threat of substantial snow fall, community leaders in Benton and Saline County decided to again open a warming shelter to provide for those in need. Last year was their first year to open the warming shelter located at Northside Church of Christ, next to Saline Memorial Hospital.
The center opened at 8 p.m. Wednesday evening and will remain open through noon Sunday. ABDR began serving food Thursday morning. Deb Norris, ABDR volunteer, said they will be serving three meals – breakfast, lunch, and dinner – each day.
“We’re excited to be able to participate again and minister to people that may or may not know Jesus and have the opportunity to share His love and be the hands and feet of Jesus,” Norris said.
“It’s more than just cooking for them. We hope to be there to minister and share with them Jesus’ love and try to meet their spiritual needs as well as their physical needs.”
In addition to Arkansas Baptists, Benton Mayor Tom Farmer, who is a member at First Baptist Church in Benton, noted several other churches and denominations were involved with the warming center. Last year, the community signed up and showed up. They are doing it again with God at the center of it all.
“It’s pretty amazing. Just like before, every church in the county has pretty well stepped up,” Farmer said.
Additionally, he said the Benton Police Department has staffed officers for the warming shelter. He noted several churches have chipped in to pay for the offered security. In addition, First Baptist in Benton has offered the use of its vans in case they need to go pick up someone in need.
“It’s just a total community effort,” Farmer said. “It’s the entire Saline County community working together to make this happen.”
Farmer said they have had numerous people from all throughout Saline County sign up to volunteer at the shelter. Volunteers are scheduled to work in six-hour shifts. They will sit and engage with people and meet their needs.
According to the last unsheltered count he saw, Farmer said there were 30 unsheltered people in the area.
“We’re not going to turn anyone away,” he said.