BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP)
Four months after the tornadoes of April 27, Tracy Hipps can look back with amazement at what happened in the aftermath.
Hipps, executive director of the Christian Service Mission, walks through the ministry's warehouse stocked with goods and marvels at how many times it was filled, emptied and filled again. "The morning after the tornado, we had eight churches here organizing," Hipps said. "We got busy and it never stopped."
Volunteers from across the city and across the country, from a variety of faiths and denominations, assembled at the Christian Service Mission's massive warehouse to load and unload and deliver supplies to tornado relief distribution points.
"We mobilized 15,000 volunteers," Hipps said.
"They came from all over the United States. It's been truly amazing."
Donations poured in from all over -- a town in Utah sent a tractor-trailer loaded with goods, a company based in St. Louis donated power tools -- and the warehouse at the Christian Service Mission became a central distribution point.
"We've given away at least $10 million worth of donated items," he said.
"We turned the inventory over 13 times," said Gil Franks, compassion director for Christian Service Mission.
Franks, too, stands in disbelief recounting the diversity of volunteers and the way the tornadoes helped rally them together. "There were a lot of groups that would not normally work together," Franks said. "We had 800 volunteers here in one day," Franks said.
No one wanting to help was turned away, Hipps said.
"We needed all the hands, every hand we could get," said Hipps. "People wanted a place to serve. It was about getting help to the people."
Church of the Highlands, Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Parkway Christian Fellowship, Briarwood Presbyterian Church, Faith Chapel Christian Center, United Methodist churches, the Birmingham Baptist Association and other groups sent a steady stream of volunteers.
"Every church has stepped up," Hipps said.
On April 28, Christian Service Mission had 12 pallets of bottled water. Within eight weeks, 400 pallets of water had been donated.
The Facebook page for Christian Service Mission became a focal point of getting the word out about needs. "It just kept everybody informed," Hipps said. "Wherever there was a need, we jumped right in there."
Word went out that baby diapers were needed. Truckloads of diapers arrived. "The loaves and fishes did happen," Hipps said. "The trucks kept pulling in here."
Christian Service Mission has sent loads of supplies to help in disasters in other states, including with the relief effort after a tornado in Joplin, Mo. But the supplies will go wherever they're needed, Hipps said. About 14,000 pounds of donated rice is being shipped to Haiti, he said. "We match the need with the people," Hipps said.
The mission has a giant deep-freeze, kept at zero degrees, plus refrigerated and cooled warehouse rooms for food storage. Much of the food donated -- from day-old bread to frozen goods -- is distributed through shelters and food banks.
Bob Gross, volunteer coordinator for Temple Emanu-El, said he had no knowledge of Christian Service Mission before the tornado, but learned about them when trying to help about 115 Jewish volunteers from around the country find a way to help.
"It's a wonderful partnership," Gross said. "When you're doing good deeds, there's no religious boundaries."
"All the people we've sent through them have been tremendously impressed with what they do in the warehouse and in the field," said Temple Emanu-El Rabbi Jonathan Miller.
Temple Emanu-El and the Union of Reform Judaism jointly donated more than $12,000 this month to help fund the continuing work of Christian Service Mission, even though the ministry makes no apologies for being an evangelical Christian organization. "No one questioned it all," Gross said. "They do great work."
Hipps said he has been in contact with a wealthy Muslim businessman from Florida who wanted to make a large donation. "We don't ask what people's beliefs are, or talk about what theological differences they have," he said. "We're talking about helping our brothers in need."
Four months after the tornadoes of April 27, Tracy Hipps can look back with amazement at what happened in the aftermath.
Hipps, executive director of the Christian Service Mission, walks through the ministry's warehouse stocked with goods and marvels at how many times it was filled, emptied and filled again. "The morning after the tornado, we had eight churches here organizing," Hipps said. "We got busy and it never stopped."
Volunteers from across the city and across the country, from a variety of faiths and denominations, assembled at the Christian Service Mission's massive warehouse to load and unload and deliver supplies to tornado relief distribution points.
"We mobilized 15,000 volunteers," Hipps said.
"They came from all over the United States. It's been truly amazing."
Donations poured in from all over -- a town in Utah sent a tractor-trailer loaded with goods, a company based in St. Louis donated power tools -- and the warehouse at the Christian Service Mission became a central distribution point.
"We've given away at least $10 million worth of donated items," he said.
"We turned the inventory over 13 times," said Gil Franks, compassion director for Christian Service Mission.
Franks, too, stands in disbelief recounting the diversity of volunteers and the way the tornadoes helped rally them together. "There were a lot of groups that would not normally work together," Franks said. "We had 800 volunteers here in one day," Franks said.
No one wanting to help was turned away, Hipps said.
"We needed all the hands, every hand we could get," said Hipps. "People wanted a place to serve. It was about getting help to the people."
Church of the Highlands, Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Parkway Christian Fellowship, Briarwood Presbyterian Church, Faith Chapel Christian Center, United Methodist churches, the Birmingham Baptist Association and other groups sent a steady stream of volunteers.
"Every church has stepped up," Hipps said.
On April 28, Christian Service Mission had 12 pallets of bottled water. Within eight weeks, 400 pallets of water had been donated.
The Facebook page for Christian Service Mission became a focal point of getting the word out about needs. "It just kept everybody informed," Hipps said. "Wherever there was a need, we jumped right in there."
Word went out that baby diapers were needed. Truckloads of diapers arrived. "The loaves and fishes did happen," Hipps said. "The trucks kept pulling in here."
Christian Service Mission has sent loads of supplies to help in disasters in other states, including with the relief effort after a tornado in Joplin, Mo. But the supplies will go wherever they're needed, Hipps said. About 14,000 pounds of donated rice is being shipped to Haiti, he said. "We match the need with the people," Hipps said.
The mission has a giant deep-freeze, kept at zero degrees, plus refrigerated and cooled warehouse rooms for food storage. Much of the food donated -- from day-old bread to frozen goods -- is distributed through shelters and food banks.
Bob Gross, volunteer coordinator for Temple Emanu-El, said he had no knowledge of Christian Service Mission before the tornado, but learned about them when trying to help about 115 Jewish volunteers from around the country find a way to help.
"It's a wonderful partnership," Gross said. "When you're doing good deeds, there's no religious boundaries."
"All the people we've sent through them have been tremendously impressed with what they do in the warehouse and in the field," said Temple Emanu-El Rabbi Jonathan Miller.
Temple Emanu-El and the Union of Reform Judaism jointly donated more than $12,000 this month to help fund the continuing work of Christian Service Mission, even though the ministry makes no apologies for being an evangelical Christian organization. "No one questioned it all," Gross said. "They do great work."
Hipps said he has been in contact with a wealthy Muslim businessman from Florida who wanted to make a large donation. "We don't ask what people's beliefs are, or talk about what theological differences they have," he said. "We're talking about helping our brothers in need."
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