Updated: Churches, relief ministries feed thousands after southern Indiana tornadoes

Update: Contrary to some media reports, southern Indiana still needs volunteers willing to spend time cleaning debris and helping with relief, says Laura Beth Lamb, a member of the Northside Church of Christ in Jeffersonville, Ind. Churches have ample supplies, but need more volunteers to distribute them. To volunteer, contact the church at (812) 416-0588.
A mobile feeding ministry associated with Churches of Christ has served more than 4,600 meals to tornado victims and disaster relief volunteers in the southern Indiana community of Pekin, organizers said.
Disaster Assistance CoC, sponsored by the Lake Jackson Church of Christ in Texas, set up its mobile headquarters at MJ Auto in Pekin — a business owned by a member of the Borden Church of Christ and located just a few minutes from a disaster area.
“We are cooking meals, delivering meals, handing out and delivering other miscellaneous supplies and have volunteers going out to do cleanup and repair,” said Mike Baumgartner, director of Disaster Assistance CoC. “Each meal that we hand out contains a flyer that lists several churches in the area that we are serving.”
More than 140 volunteers have helped with the effort, Baumgartner said, some working all day in the rain.
The Big Spring Church of Christ in Pekin and the Northside Church of Christ in Jeffersonville, Ind., are assisting with the coordination.
“We’ve prayed with a lot of people,” said Kevin Blalock, minister for the Big Spring church. “We’re giving as much food and prayer and, hopefully, love as we can, and we’re going to keep trying to do it until (the disaster) is over.”
In a blog post, Scott Reeder, minister for the Borden Church of Christ, praised the relief effort and called for donations:

They are making a difference by distributing hundreds of meals daily right in some of the hardest hit areas. They are serving both people affected and the disaster relief workers in the field.  They are distributing meals by vehicle, through local churches, and at the mobile kitchen in Pekin. …
These are Church of Christ brethren who serve in the name of the Lord and need our help. They are asking for three things; prayers, volunteers, and funds.

Besides the hot meals served by Disaster Assistance CoC, victims have received emergency food boxes distributed through the Martinsburg Church of Christ by the Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort, based in Nashville, Tenn.
Disaster Assistance CoC has this motto: “Combating Natural Disasters with Acts of God.” For details on donating or volunteering, see the ministry’s website.
Are you aware of other relief efforts by Churches of Christ following the recent tornadoes in Indiana and Kentucky? Please share details in the comments section.

• Feedback
  Mike met with a group of church leaders from the Kentuckiana area Wednesday, the 14th. Our church, Cherry Street Church of Christ took a special offering Sunday and presented him with over $900 towards his efforts. Our church will be working with him for the next few weeks as he ministers to the people in the Southern Indiana area. The tornado that caused this damage was on the ground for 50 miles with winds up to 175 miles per hour. We are thankful for the good work Mike and his organization are doing and urge others to support his efforts.

  Jeff Adams

  March, 15 2012

  Aprox. 6000 meals have been served and handed out in the damaged areas and around 700 volunters have helped us so far.

  Disaster Assistance Mission

  March, 15 2012

  The Disaster Assistance Mission is still here working. Over 1000 volunteers have been here helping. 11,500 meals have been served.
  To help go to: www.disasterassistancecoc.com

  Disaster Assistance Mission

  April, 6 2012