Oklahoma tornado relief: How to help (Updated)

Update: The Memorial Road and Oakcrest churches are coordinating clean-up crews. See their contact information below.

Terry Fischer, community outreach minister for the Memorial Road Church of Christ, leads a prayer before volunteers disperse to aid tornado victims. (Photo by Erik Tryggestad)

Blogging live from Oklahoma City
Right now, one of the least effective things you can do to help Oklahoma tornado victims is load up your car with tools and bottled water and head toward the city of Moore.
As police continue search and rescue operations in Moore, just south of Oklahoma City, they are turning away people trying to get into the area to assist, church members report. At least one relief team from a Church of Christ was turned away early today. Instead, the volunteers are working on relief efforts for other parts of the state hit by recent tornadoes — including Shawnee, Luther and Edmond.
Churches of Christ in the Oklahoma City metro are setting up relief centers and housing victims of the storms. Many more are accepting donations for tornado relief.
Here’s a brief list of churches and ministries accepting donations. We will post updates as we get them.
Churches:
• Central Church of Christ in Moore, Okla., is open as a relief center. The church’s address is 411 SW 4th St. in Moore. (405) 794-4493
• Oakcrest Church of Christ, 1111 SW 89th Street, Oklahoma City. (405) 631-5534. The church has set up a shelter for storm victims and is receiving relief supplies. (See minister Ben Glover’s interview with Fox News.)
• Memorial Road Church of Christ, 2221 E Memorial Road, Edmond, Okla. (405) 478-0166. The church has set up a donations page and is coordinating relief teams for tornado-hit areas across the state.
• Capitol Hill Church of Christ, 2801 S. Robinson, Oklahoma City, is setting up a non-emergent medical station for those who need medications replaced, have minor injuries or need triage for more major injuries.
Ministries:
• Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort. This Nashville, Tenn.-based ministry has sent a relief shipment to the Lakeview Church of Christ in Shawnee, Okla., to assist with relief efforts there.
• Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team. This ministry has representatives on the way to Moore to assess needs. The ministry plans to work with the Oakcrest Church of Christ.
• Disaster Assistance CoC, supported by Churches of Christ, is sending a representative to Moore to assess needs. The ministry continues to serve meals to volunteers and people in need in the disaster-hit Texas cities of West and Cleburne.
• WFR Relief Ministries. This ministry of the White’s Ferry Road Church of Christ in West Monroe, La. (of “Duck Dynasty” fame), is working with the Lakeview Church of Christ in Shawneed, Okla., recovering from a tornado that struck the day before the Moore tornado.

• Feedback
  PRAYING FOR PEOPLE, WILL SEND A CHECK TO COFC DRE, NASHVILLE, ASAP.

  Yale Canfield

  May, 21 2013

  Who would I contact regarding rescue animals, particularly dogs and horses. I live in Georgia and want to help somehow. Thank you.

  Barbara Siegfried

  May, 21 2013

  Praying for all of you and will pass along the relief info to churches here in Southern CA. We are alumni of OCU and former members at Memorial Road. Contact us if we can give more info out.

  Linda/Travis Crawford

  May, 21 2013

  Lori Coke Waugh, who is on staff with Tipton Children’s Home, the sister-in-law of James and Dan Waugh posted this on facebook.
  Christopher Legg was an elementary school student who died while at school in Moore. Christopher is the grandson of Mark Legg, former preacher at the church of Christ in Eldorado. Christopher’s father, Ross and his wife lost their home, as well. Here is a link to help this family. http://www.trumbly.com/ross-danni-legg-family-tornado-relief-fund/
  God Bless the Christian Chronicle

  Mary Brown Boren

  May, 21 2013

  -Disaster Assistance Mission-Moore OK Tornado- I just finished meeting with Elders from Central Church of Christ, 411 S.W. 4th Street, Moore, Oklahoma 73153 We will be working with them on all phases of disaster assistance. We will be doing outreach, meals, food and other supply distribution, cleanup and repairs and volunteer coordination. The church has showers so when the power is back on we will be able to house volunteers. You will need air mattress or cot and you personal items. Supplies are being brought in now and we will be setup serving meals on Friday.

  Disaster Assistance Mission

  May, 21 2013

  praying for all that were affected by the devastation. God is still in charge.

  UChenna F. Bekee

  May, 22 2013

  Cherokee Hills church of Christ also has a link for donations.
  www.cherokeehillsrelief.com

  Lisa Reed

  May, 22 2013

  As a church secretary, I am grateful you have made these relief efforts available. We are publishing our church bulletin with your suggestions on how to donate to help with the relief effort in Oklahoma. Thank you!
  Until the DAY!
  Dawn Jones, secretary Grandville Church of Christ, Grand Rapids, MI

  Dawn Jones

  May, 22 2013

  Hi, For animal rescue efforts, pets are being gathered at the Cleveland Country Fairgrounds. They are asking for food, carriers, etc. You can reach them at Cleveland County Fairgrounds, 615 E. Robinson , Norman, OK 73071, (405)360-4721 <a href=”http://www.clevelandcountyfair.org” rel=”nofollow”>www.clevelandcountyfair.org</a>
  Thanks!
  Daphne, Edmond, OK

  Daphne Talbot

  May, 22 2013

  I just ordered enough supplies to serve 9000 meals this weekend (Fri-Sat-Sun). That is a very big undertaking please keep us and everyone in your prayers. Volunteer and donation information on web site www.disasterassistancecoc.com please share this with all your contacts. Also with the large number of volunteers we have coming, I have ordered a 6 unit shower trailer coming Sunday plus the two at the church give us 8 showers.

  Disaster Assistance Mission

  May, 22 2013

  Thank you- we will publish this information in our church bulletin this week also. Many prayers are being offered for all affected by the tornadoes.

  Fran Henniger

  May, 23 2013

  Who can we contact about assisting with the clean up and/rebuilding?

  Brook

  May, 24 2013

  Brook: Contact either the Memorial Road church or the Oakcrest church (listed above). Both are coordinating relief and demolition teams. There’s no “rebuilding” as such just yet. We’re still in the clean-up phase. The rebuilding will come shortly, though.

  Erik Tryggestad

  May, 24 2013

  Thank you for providing a way for people living far away to support the people in Moore, OK. You are being Jesus’hands and feet.May God bless you.

  Genevieve Potts

  May, 24 2013

  So which church is housing and feeding survivors who lost their homes in Moore?

  Denise Dickinson

  May, 24 2013

  Why is it that so many churches cannot follow the pattern of the New Testament and just give from people TO people? Why do you need a Sponsoring church or a Collection church or a Relief Organization?
  The Bible teaches that members helped members. They didn’t send it to one church to send it to all in need. They sent their money directly to the people in need. The world sent to Judea. The world sent it to the Elders at the place it was needed. Corinth didn’t send it Antioch as the sponsoring church.
  Just follow the Bible.

  Terry Clayton

  May, 24 2013

  Terry: Thanks for the comment. My first response to this would be that, by going through a church instead of just giving money directly to victims, you cut down on the potential for fraud and increase the oversight and accountability with regard to funds.
  The argument you’re making here is the same argument that led to the “non-institutional” designation among Churches of Christ years ago. I notice that the church you link to is listed in my directory as “NI.”
  I’m curious to know how non-institutional churches are responding to the recent Oklahoma and Texas tornadoes. How is your response different from the response of “institutional” Churches of Christ? Thanks.

  Erik Tryggestad

  May, 24 2013

  Denise: I’m not sure that any of our congregations are housing storm victims at this point, though Oakcrest offered that service early on. Moore Central (listed above) is preparing meals for victims as I type this. I was just down there today, watching the folks from Disaster Assistance CoC make lunches.

  Erik Tryggestad

  May, 24 2013

  Beginning Tuesday, May 28th, Alameda Church of Christ located at 801 E Alameda, Norman, will open its doors to serve as a distribution center for all those affected by the recent tornadoes that hit Moore and surrounding communities. The hours of operation will be 3-7 pm, M-Th (until further notice). Through a partnership with Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort, Inc., FREE food boxes, hygiene products, buckets of cleaning supplies, as well as NEW shoes and clothes will be available for those affected.
  For more information, please contact the church office at 321-0788 (8-5, M-Th) or email Mike Stogsdill ([email protected]).
  Also, The Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team has set up at the Alameda Church of Christ.
  Thanks!

  Teresa

  May, 24 2013

  After work yesterday, I stopped by the Moore Central congregation building(at the bottom of the southbound exit at I-35/4th Street) to drop off some Gatorade for those going out to help at the remains of people’s homes and businesses.
  One additional need is relief workers at the Disaster Relief Center. Anyone could call Moore Central’s main number to get the cell phone number of the lady who’s coordinating workers there.
  The same core of people have been staffing the Disaster Relief Center for several days, and they are getting exhausted.

  Russ Sharp

  May, 29 2013