When disaster strikes, compassion among Texans becomes evident. With the death toll over 100 and rising daily after the weekendòòò½ÊÓƵ™s catastrophic flooding in the Hill Country, and with the devastation seemingly endless, Crossroads area organizations and churches are showing why they have a real heart for humanity during crisis situations.
Many cities and entities across the area are coordinating efforts to raise money to help families recover from the disastrous floods in which 18 inches of rain were dumped in the Kerrville area beginning in the early-morning hours of July 4.
Former Parkway Baptist Church pastor Scott Weatherford, who leads an organization titled Building Lives Network, traveled to the Texas Hill Country Tuesday with a friend, Scott Tidwell, who is an independent contractor and is associated with Hayes òòò½ÊÓƵ disaster relief. The two made the trip to survey the situation and to meet with local pastors about what can be done to help with long-term relief efforts, armed with approximately $500 in H-E-B gift cards.
Both Weatherford and Tidwell were instrumental in relief and rebuilding efforts following the flooding in Wimberley, Texas, in 2015. Weatherford served as a pastor at First Baptist Church in Wimberley.
Tidwell, who helped serve 180,000 meals at the Texas-Mexico border in 2021, has secured a 35,000-square-foot building in the area that will help house a group of volunteers for long-term relief efforts, which Weatherford said will most likely include many teens from the Crossroads region.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWhat we typically do in these situations is that we target the pastors and care for the leaders in the community so that they can care for the people of the community itself,òòò½ÊÓƵ Weatherford said. òòò½ÊÓƵœTheyòòò½ÊÓƵ™re the ones right away that we communicate with and equip so that they can take care of the rest of the community. This is going to be a months-long effort, not a week-long event. We want to be there to help them and to encourage them and do whatever they need us to do. To us, this is unfathomable.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Weatherford said Mercy Chefs, who provide hot, chef-prepared meals and clean drinking water to victims, volunteers, and first responders in the aftermath of natural disasters and emergencies, is on the ground in the area. Since its founding, Mercy Chefs has served over 30 million meals and responded to 220 disasters in 33 US states and territories and 33 countries.
Local Efforts
Faith Family Church in Victoria is in the process of putting together hygiene packs and cleaning packs for those affected, and the church is asking people to donate towards that. Pastor Jim Graff said the church has been in contact with Samaritanòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Purse, which is coordinating efforts in San Angelo and both entities will send in volunteer teams as soon as they are given the green light.
Graff said they have also been in contact with Lakewood Church in Houston and that church will send a great deal of items with Faith Family volunteers making the trip.
Graff said he is telling his church that the hygiene packs will cost about $7 each and cleaning packs $12 each.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWe are encouraging people to get involved by donating toward that,òòò½ÊÓƵ Graff said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWeòòò½ÊÓƵ™re planning to take volunteer sign-ups this weekend with the understanding that we donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t have specific days but PT is working with Samaritanòòò½ÊÓƵ™s purse to get that sorted out.òòò½ÊÓƵ
The city of Cuero is showing its support to Kerrville by collecting gift cards from its citizens to assist with immediate needs of family. The city is requesting gift cards from Walmart, H-E-B and also Visa/Mastercard gift cards of any size. Donations will help families purchase essential items such as food and clothing.
You can drop off gift cards at the Cuero Chamber of Commerce at 210 E. Main St. òòò½ÊÓƵœAll donations will be hand-delivered with care,òòò½ÊÓƵ the Cuero Chamber promises.
Matagorda òòò½ÊÓƵ has mobilized swiftly, delivering trailers of donated goods and organizing continued relief efforts for those affected.
In addition to honoring local first responders and healthcare workers this Sunday night at the Victoria Generalsòòò½ÊÓƵ™ game at Riverside Stadium, DeTar Healthcare system will present an opportunity for area residents to extend support to those impacted by the floods in the Texas Hill Country. Attendees at the game will find QR-coded signage at the stadium where they can donate to the Kerr òòò½ÊÓƵ Flood Relief Fund.
Somebody Cares
On a state and national level, Somebody Cares America/International, based in Houston, has coordinated with several pastors, church leaders and partners to not only get updates on the situation but to strategize efforts on how to help with the devastation.
Two members of Somebody Caresòòò½ÊÓƵ™ San Antonio-based relief team, Mark Roye and David Gulon, are on site assessing immediate and long-term needs.
òòò½ÊÓƵœThis is overwhelming and deeply heartbreaking,òòò½ÊÓƵ said Doug Stringer, founder and president of Somebody Cares. òòò½ÊÓƵœItòòò½ÊÓƵ™s a tragedy that is hard to fully process, even for those who have walked through many disaster relief efforts over the years. This is a critical moment for the body of Christ to come togetheròòò½ÊÓƵ”present not just with supplies, but with compassion, care and a long-term commitment to stand with those grieving and displaced. We are in conversations about potentially hosting gatherings of hope and healing in the weeks ahead.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Some of the efforts for Somebody Cares include:
òòò½ÊÓƵ¢ Working with Joseph Storehouse affiliates to procure resources for the long-term recovery.
òòò½ÊÓƵ¢ Engaging in daily Zoom phone meetings with ministry leaders, emergency contacts and relief organizations.
Plans to ship in needed resources and supplies from their affiliates in Minneapolis and the East coast, so they are ready as so as they are given the green light.
òòò½ÊÓƵœLetòòò½ÊÓƵ™s stand together in the gap for our brothers and sisters in the Hill Country We believe God is near to the brokenhearted and able to bring hope in the midst of devastation. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble.òòò½ÊÓƵ
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