Posted on 10/30/2005 9:10:08 PM PST by Between the Lines
CLEWISTON — Hurricane victims who wanted water had some difficulty finding it at a relief station in Clewiston Friday. The volunteer group running a supply center doesn't like the company that donated the water, so they decided not to give it to those in line for help.
Twenty-two pallets of the canned water, distributed free by beer company Anheuser-Busch, bears the company's label – and members of the Southern Baptist Convention refused to hand it out to those in need.
Resident lined up for miles to receive food and water at the distribution point. But the water was left on the sidelines by the Alabama-based group.
"The pastor didn't want to hand out the Budweiser cans to people and that's his prerogative and I back him 100-percent," said SBC volunteer John Cook.
The SBC felt it was inappropriate to give the donation out, and they weren't happy when NBC2 wanted to know why.
"Why do you want to make that the issue? That's not the issue. The issue is that we're here trying to help people," Cook said.
No one disagrees with that, but the Red Cross says Anheuser-Busch is also trying to help.
The water has been available all along, but the SBC volunteers set it aside and few people knew it was available.
While the SBC is standing its ground, the Red Cross says water is water and they're now handing out the supplies.
The vice-president of operations for Anheuser-Busch, Mike Harding, released a statement on the donation Friday reading:
“As we have seen numerous times in recent years, safe drinking water is a critical need following natural disasters such as Hurricane Wilma. At the request of various relief agencies, Anheuser-Busch and its wholesalers have donated more than 9 million cans of drinking water since Hurricane Katrina hit in August, and when called on, we’ll continue to provide water to all victims of Wilma as long as it’s needed.”
"I don't think it makes a difference who gives it out. It's going to a good cause. It's going to help everyone," said storm victim Lisa Simmons.
And many victims are grateful Anheuser-Busch is stepping in to help.
Yea, when Augie and the bud guys stand before God and all the misery is shown ,their product played a role in, and they profited off of, it will not be helpful to them!
Article never stated they did not had out any water at all. They only refused to hand out the Bud water!
I read in our state SBC newsletter that millions of meals had been prepared. Why should they have to do something that goes against their beliefs? I noticed they did not mention the meals, clothes, etc that the SBC provided. Our church has collected tens of thousands of dollars for the disasters.
What would Jesus do? Give out clean drinking water? Or set it aside because the water was donated by a sinner?
I know.... this is very unfortunate... mostly that it was reported at all.
They got water just not that brand.
In your haste to express your consistent animosity toward Southern Baptists, you jumped to a conclusion that exposes your biased nonreasoning.
They did not protest others passing out the water with the Budweiser labels.
They did not try to stop anyone else from passing out the water with the Budweiser labels.
They did not deface the Budweiser labels.
They did not try to talk anyone else out of drinking from the cans with the Budweiser labels.
In fact they did nothing that would lead you to deny their simple explantation for their actions and substitute your wild false accusation instead. (your false accusation wouldn't hold 'water', even if it had a Budweiser label)
You need to apologize for your slander.
I am a Southern Baptists and we are not bigots like you said. The last time I checked which was about 3 weeks ago, the organization had provided over 7,500,000 meals, had collected lots of money, clothes, etc. I think it said that over 45 SBC states were involved in the disaster relief efforts.
They got water just not that kind.
It sounds to me like the SBs are volunteering at a RC distribution center. But I could be wrong.
Note to the irony-challenged: This is not a criticism of Jewish people, Judaism, or Israel.
"The Southern Baptist should take a step forward and refuse the contributions of members who drink. Better yet just kick them out of the church."
Then there would hardly be any Southern Baptists left. Where I live most people are Southern Baptists. Catholics, Methodists, and so on are the distinct minority. If you went to a local bar and asked everyone what denomination they belong to, those that would tell you for the most part would say they are Baptists. I wouldn't be surprised at all to learn that Anheuser Busch sells more beer to Southern Baptists around here than to those belonging to any other denomination.
The word "Budweiser" appears nowhere on these white cans with black print on them.
When you're bored today search ebay for THE WILMA BANJO.
Kinda cool if for no other reason that the seller is donating 10% of the winning bid price to the Red Cross.
Catholics will speak to each other a the liquor store.
Oh, please. Apparently, they had plenty of water to hand out. They just chose not to hand out the Bud water.
No story here, except some kooks trying to trash Baptists (who are, by the way, working hard helping those effected by the hurricane).
Do you have any evidence that the people went without water?
Oh, please. They have handed out countless bottles of water in their relief effort. No one went without water because the SBC didn't hand out the Bud water.
Have many bottles of water have you handed out to hurricane victims?
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