Posted on 09/13/2017 10:13:33 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
As Hurricane Irma leaves behind a trail of destruction and pain, the nation again turns its eyes to disaster relief. Just a few weeks ago, Hurricane Harvey brought out the best in many of us. Desiring to aid victims in Texas, celebrities traded on their popularity to encourage donations and volunteers. Average citizens opened up their wallets, gave of their time, and expended energy as they rushed to help fellow citizens. Local non-profits and large multi-national corporations alike demonstrated that compassion is a universal trait of humanity. No doubt, the response to Hurricane Irma will be just as compassionate and swift.
As people and organizations rush to Florida to aid those affected by Hurricane Irma, one organization that responds to natural disasters is often overlooked the Southern Baptist Convention's Disaster Relief program. Under the auspices of the North American Mission Board, SBC, the Disaster Relief program quickly moves into devastated areas with well-trained and coordinated manpower, physical resources like food and clothing, and, of course, money.
The organization's website states:
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is Christian love in action. This ministry meets the urgent needs of hurting humanity in crisis situations. Christ calls for believers to demonstrate His love to those affected by disasters through our timely use of resources, talents and time. We provide many different types of relief, including food, water, child care, laundry, repairs, rebuilding and more.
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief has gained national and international recognition for our work in crisis situations across the country. State convention leaders invest significant resources to provide proper training for our volunteers. They stand ready at a moments notice to help the hurting and bring hope during a catastrophe.
In 2013, replicating their response to previous disasters, SBC Disaster Relief rushed to the aid of tornado victims in Oklahoma.
(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...
Really??? How petty. You're not helping unfortunate people in a time of disaster because "your little feelings" got hurt. I will pray for you!
The Salvation Army is an amazing outfit. I worked with them in the 93 floods and they really worked brutal hours for months on end.
Their bologna sandwhiches are like manna, wonderfully spiced and plenty of it to go around.
Thank you.
My wife is there now helping with a shelter at a convention center in Dallas. It’s mostly children that are there.
Thank you, volunteer. May you be double blessed.
If I get no receipt, I have no way of knowing if the money got into the SA bank account, or somebody skimmed it along the way. I sent them several notices about not getting receipts, which were not even acknowledged. As for supporting worthy causes, my wife and I support 16 ministries and charities EVERY month BESIDES our local church. And EVERY one of them sends a receipt within a week or 10 days. Don’t snotty lecture me.
Thanks. I was wanting to donate to a group I can trust.
A cancelled check is a receipt...most banks still link a pdf copy of a check in your online account statements if you need one.
IRS DEMANDS a receipt from the recipient that states what amount was given, and whether the giver (me) received any goods or services of value in return. If so, the value I received must be deducted from my gift, and only the net amount affects my net taxable income. For that reason I NEVER accept gifts or premiums from the charity or ministry I support. I don’t know why they even offer them.
Not sure why you didn't get a receipt. FWIW I just donated to them about an hour ago and the receipt was sent almost immediately after the donation went through.
Samaritans Purse is legitimate.
Well, that’s fine. They seemingly blew me off. I donated by check, and they would not send me receipts, which the IRS requires, as I explained earlier. I had no problem selecting a worthwhile replacement. We even support missions to Muslims. You never hear about it, but in other countries, Muslims are accepting Christ in droves, through the www and satellite TV.
I’m thinking some or even many were folks, almost “street people,” who weren’t exactly homeless but made their incomes from menial jobs, from hand to mouth but definitely cash and/or barter, even holding signs begging and “stayed behind” during evacuations and now have no “safety nets” other than these virtual soup kitchens.
Thanks I was just going to say the same thing.
For example, our church opened its "Family Life Center" gym as shelter for several busloads of Katrina refugees.My daughter had already been trained, and, for several weeks, helped to operate a big mobile Hot Showers Unit semi-trailer that was hauled in to our site.
And, it's not only big disasters that are served by SBC Relief. Recently, we went to a cemetery service in a rural area where a small tornado or windstorm had passed through. On the way, we saw a house with a huge tree blown down across its garage and main roof. On our way home we saw a pickup and big gooseneck trailer labeled, "SBC Chainsaw and Rigging Relief Unit" backed into the driveway. Several men already had the tree mostly cut up and were using a portable hoist to remove the pieces without doing further damage. And others were unpacking sheet plastic, plywoood and lumber to temporarily weatherproof the damaged roof.
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Although they sometimes go to house fires in urban areas -- and hand out toothbrushes, etc. -- I seriously doubt the Red Cross ever exhibits any interest in small, rural disasters...
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