First of all, let me just say how much I love the heart of our church! We are known as the church that serves and loves its community and neighbors. So, the most asked question we’ve received over the last several days is, “How are we going to be involved in the relief effort?” and “How can I help?” Since the storm went through, we have been in conversation with several churches, organizations, and individuals all affected by the storm. This morning I was on the phone with a Pastor of a church in Swannoa, NC, one of the hardest hit areas in Western NC. He cried over the phone at the outpouring of help and support and seeing God move in their small town. He’s had people in his church who’ve been involved in literally pulling bodies out of the riverbank. He told me that right now, they don’t need any more food or water. Their greatest need is money, labor, and clean up supplies (shovels, wheel barrows, dump trailers). He also told me that as he talked to specific people from their church and their community with specific needs, that he would reach out. I also spoke with Brian & Madison Ross, a young family who were leaders and very involved at Coastal, who now live in Western NC. Brian works for Samaritan’s Purse (one of the largest Christian Relief Organizations in the world). When I called him, he was literally setting up a field hospital in Linville, NC. Since the storm came through we’ve had conversations with people all over the Southeast who have been affected by the storm.
This is going to be a long, long road to recovery. Think Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Andrew. The reality is that some communities will not recover or be rebuilt. People will be relocating and starting over. So what can we do? Well, what we’ve learned over the years is that it’s important to work with people and/or organizations that you know and trust to ensure that the help needed gets to the people in need. We’ve also operated under the principle of, “Do for one (or a few), what you wish you could do for everyone.” In other words, we might not be able to give water, food, supplies, and money to everyone in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, but who do we know and who can we help?
So, after a lot of conversations and a lot of prayer, here’s what we’re going to do and how you can help. One week from today, on Wednesday, October 9th, at 6am, we’re going to be pulling out of Coastal with all 4 Box Trucks and our Van and head down to the small, south Georgia town of Nicholls, GA (about 4 hours away) in Coffee County. We should be back in Charleston around 8pm. Why Nicholls, GA? Well it’s a poor, small (2-3,000 people), south Georgia town that was also hit hard, hasn’t got a lot of press, and not really near a bigger City with supplies. Therefore, it hasn’t received a lot of help. We also have a contact with someone we know and trust. Cindi Rembert, from our church, is from the town and still has family who live there. She is also working closely with the Mayor of the Town and helping to coordinate some of the relief effort. Since the storm she’s been driving down with food and supplies. So when we arrive at the local Town Community Center, we’re going to be setting up a “Double Tailgate” where we anticipate feeding 4-5 hundred people (hamburgers/hotdogs – our normal tailgate), handing out clothes (from our clothing trucks), and giving out food and supplies that we collect this week. That’s where you come in! We have less than one week to collect any of the following supplies that we will carry with us to Nicholls, GA:
Bottled water
Non Perishable Food (protein, pop-top meals/canned goods)
Contractor size trash bags
First Aid supplies
Feminine Hygiene
Diapers
Toilet Paper
Paper Towels
Cleaning Supplies (bleach, spray, wipes)
Baby Food, Formula
Tarps
Pet Food
Charcoal
Please feel free to bring any of the items to the church this weekend – Saturday Serve or Sunday morning. You can also drop them off during the week – Mon-Thurs, 9am-4pm. And feel free to continue dropping off supplies even after next Wednesday. I envision our church serving as a local hub of food and supplies for our community. Then as people from our church and community make trips in the coming weeks to help friends and family in various places in the upstate, NC, FL, GA, and TN, they can simply drop by the church, pick up a car load of food, water, and supplies and personally deliver them to people in need.
We also obviously need volunteers to make the trip to Nicholls, GA with us to pull this off. We will be driving our Coastal Van and caravanning with anyone who is available, leaving at 6am from the church on Wednesday, October 9th. Please sign up online if you can go!
One last thing. The biggest need that we keep hearing over and over is money. There are plenty of organizations out there to give to. One of the most trusted is Samaritans Purse (they also organize Operation Christmas Child). You can also give to our church. If you designate your gift “RELIEF” or “Benevolence,” we will make sure it gets to people in need. You can also TEXT any amount to our church number, 843-571-1777 (ex. “$100 RELIEF”). Earlier today, because of a connection from someone at our church, we were able to give a significant financial gift to a single mom of 4 children with no family, living in the Chimney Rock area who had made a living cleaning AirBnb’s and working at a local restaurant. Both of her jobs are now gone. This is how she responded to the gift:
“I’m literally bawling my eyes out. You are a walking angel. You and your community are a God send. I will never be able to thank you enough. I have no words. I’m so incredibly thankful. I was feeling defeated, but God is good. Please tell your church the impact they just made for me and my kids!”
Coastal, when I tell you that your consistent, generous giving enables our church to do all that it does here, in the community, and around the world, this is an example of what I’m talking about. Well, I think that’s about it. Coastal let’s do this! Let’s show the watching world (and Nicholls GA), that there is help and hope!
Much Love!
Pastor Chris “PC”
P.S. Again, here’s the link to sign up online to go to Nicholls GA next week. And if you’re making a trip anytime soon to ANY affected area, stop by the church to pick up supplies or let us know what you need!
