Over $280,000 Raised for Disaster Relief in the MidSouth

The MidSouth Annual Conference responded quickly following the landfall of hurricane Helene on Sept. 26, 2024 and the needs of hurricane disaster relief. Several churches set themselves up as donation sites while multitudes of congregations put out requests to begin gathering items. All of these donated items made their way to the collection sites where crews of church members came together to load supplies onto the trucks. Those trucks were driven out to the churches who had set themselves up to be distribution centers near places of greatest need in the Helene hurricane path. The staging areas filled with supplies as church members arrived to sort through the items to drive into regions of need for distribution. That process continued on many times to fill gymnasiums, empty gymnasiums, and deliver goods. This proved to be an alive and concerted effort continuing on across many weeks! Crews of people continued carrying supplies into regions of East Tennessee and the southwestern part of Virginia impacted by flooding water and high winds from the hurricane throughout the month of October and November. The volunteers in the MidSouth ministered to the people and communities by forming search parties to move through debris as they looked for missing loved ones and accounted for lives lost. This proved to be a difficult experience because of the many people trapped, washed away in the waters, and separated from loved ones. They cared for the physical needs of the displaced and heartbroken as the MidSouth rallied to supply shelter, food, water, and warmth as colder weather moved into the area.

As part of this initiative, the Conference also set up a disaster relief fund to raise donations ensuring that 100% raised went to the needs of the MidSouth for hurricane disaster relief. Many of the MidSouth representatives had spent the previous two weeks as delegates in Costa Rica at the 2024 Convening General Conference of the GMC, returning to the states on Sept. 27, 2024 right as the storms and rainfall made its way across the MidSouth. Acting quickly, with no time to rest, these individuals went into action over the weekend to set-up this fund to eliminate any overhead costs of utilizing a third party to raise funds. During those initial weeks of response, the MidSouth raised over $160,000, now reaching $188,267. The GM Church, also receiving hurricane disaster relief funds, dispersed $98,111 to the MidSouth as a denominational gift to assist the areas of the Conference impacted. These donations combined to $286,378 funds raised. The Conference staff and disaster relief volunteers have been deeply moved by the outpouring of donations from the people and God’s continual provision during this season!

The MidSouth Conference Treasurer, Rev. Matt Conover, and the Conference Connectional Officer, Rev. Todd Chancey, were assisted by disaster coordinator, Rev. Suzanne Whittaker, to seek out specific needs and ensure those needs were met. This included incredible stories of God’s hand at work as generators were purchased and immediately taken by local law enforcement to care for individuals on life-support, as well the timely sale of stacks of grills at a local store right as the MidSouth had been made aware of the need. Store clerks, happy to offload these grills from their inventory, were thrilled to assist in carrying the grills and charcoal to trucks for delivery. Church volunteers opened their doors to serve meals to first responders and anyone in need as the MidSouth GMC did not hesitate to love on all of God’s people across the region. Purchases for supplies and needs were focused into local businesses of those regions impacted as an additional source of financial support for rebuilding.

The Conference has kept an eye on hurricane disaster relief as an organic process that is shaped by the changing needs of the communities. Part of this is the awareness of sending money back into local businesses of the towns impacted so that the economies can rebuild. For responsible assistance to communities, the MidSouth began shifting focus toward the end of October from immediate needs of goods into long term needs of rebuilding, funding, and work teams. It was communicated to congregations that the Conference would no longer gather donated supplies by the second week of November. Since then the goal has been to connect with congregations, small groups, and volunteers to travel into the region working to muck out houses that have been flooded, provide roof repair, install sheetrock, care over debris removal, and assist in landscaping. Rev. Todd Chancey reminds us that there are many opportunities for the MidSouth to continue being the hands and feet of Jesus in this area. If you are interested in taking part in this next phase of disaster relief, please check out the most recent flier with details and contact information to get involved.

The staff of the MidSouth Conference would like to take this moment to thank each of the individuals and congregations who have made this possible and continue this work of caring for others. As Rev. Todd Chancey shared, “Every time we reach out to the least, the lost, the marginal, those who need help, we are doing what Christ has called us to do.”