"DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN"
 
As the day stretched into the night yesterday and as today began to unfold, it began to feel like three years ago for all of the workers involved in helping the evacuees of Katrina/Rita.  The good thing is that the previous experience with Katrina/Rita was a great educator. Our frantic activities are somewhat tempered with some knowledge of what to expect. While we already know that Ike has left his own set of problems, the people are much the same. Hope for many has transitioned into shock and shock is beginning to transition into dispair. As the money disappears and the credit cards reach the limit, thoughts of where to find basic essentials begin to loom on the horizon. Help seems to move at a snails pace as the mind races in every direction. Elderly, families with small children, houses damaged, houses gone, jobs gone.... and resources gone.
 
But, in the middle of the darkness there is a bright light.  It is on the faces of those that selflessly give themselves to helping their neighbors. Smiles, hugs, reassurance, and all kinds of assistance from people that see how easy it would be for them to be the ones in need instead of the givers. They open their hearts and live their faith. My hat is off to the immediate responders like Pastor Beckworth and his church in Chappell Hill and Rosa Dean and her group from Freedom Hill that immediately opened their doors to those they found in need. Wow....
 
As we move forward there will be many more opportunities for courageous and selfless service. If you are a part of our team at Faith Mission, we thank you.  But most of all, if you see a need, minister to it where it is.... you will be richly blessed............jd
 
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HELPING WHERE IT IS MOST EFFECTIVE AT THIS TIME
 
We are beginning to receive many requests of "how can I help?"  We thought this over and have the following suggestions based on priority of need at the present time:

1. Money (this provides us with the flexibility to service almost any emergency need)
2. Food (non-perishables)
3. Home Furnishings
4. Clothing

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We are pleased to announce that the Calvary Baptist Church has joined with local Boy Scout District in coordinating a food drive. This effort includes donations at the County Fair or you can call Britt Vincent at (cell) 713-818-2795 or the Calvary Baptist Church at 836-5537.
 
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NEWS RELEASE
 
FAITH MISSION OPENS A "STORM FUND" FOR ASSISTING EVACUEES
 
Faith Mission announces the opening of a Storm Relief Fund for assistance to evacuees of Hurricane Ike.  J.D. Young, Executive Director of Faith Mission stated "We are beginning to see needs from people that are stranded in Brenham. Some have homes but they are in areas where services don't exist. Some, literally have no home remaining. We are beginning to get a lot of housing, gasoline, medicine and other types of requests. Some have exhausted all their funds and don't know what to do. The Faith Mission Emergency Service Center opened this morning with some 50 volunteers ready to help people. Faith Mission can assist them with clothing and some food, but there are other items that require money. In an effort to meet these needs, Faith Mission had opened a Storm Fund at the Bank of Brenham. Donations may be made at the Bank or at the Faith Mission main office. This is a great community and we know if our citizens see the need, they will respond."
 
Faith Mission is a charity and all donations are deductible.