Christian Emergency Networking

Operation Blessing Hurricane Katrina Relief Activities

9-3-05

As of September 2nd, the Hunger Strike Force has delivered a total of 23 truckloads of food, drinks and relief supplies totaling 920,969 pounds.

Operation Blessing gave a cash grant to People That Care in Dallas to support a feeding program for evacuees located in the Reunion Center.

700+ families have received food/gas vouchers and/or clothing from Operation Blessing partner Somebody Cares Houston.

Every day 490 people are being fed hot meals and/or given food and clothing at the Hosanna Church in Houston.

5,000 disposable blankets and pillow cases have been ordered to be used with cots already at Somebody Cares Houston - will arrive Saturday morning.

9-2-05

Operation Blessing Hunger Strike Force trucks continued transportation and delivery of emergency equipment, food and supplies to The Salvation Army in support of mass feeding programs in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

Satellite Phones were secured for OBI staff to carry into hardest hit areas where cell service is out. Phones will be made available for free use of storm victims, giving them an opportunity to call loved ones who may not know that they are alive.

Heavy-duty generators have been purchased for Louisiana and Mississippi churches acting as shelters for evacuees in areas where power is out.

Hundreds of cots have also been bought for use in Houston churches acting as evacuee shelters. OBI’s partner Somebody Cares Houston has been given a cash grant for purchase of food, cots, blankets, and hygiene supplies for network of (20) churches housing evacuees.

Operation Blessing gave a cash grant to Church of God Disaster Relief for support of feeding kitchen and debris removal in Gulf Port, Mississippi. Additionally, frozen chicken and food was delivered by OBI to The Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, LA for mass feeding of victims. The Healing Place is also serving as drop-off and distribution point for donations of food and clothing and supporting teams of volunteers for debris removal.

OBI gave a cash grant to Hosanna Church for groceries, food vouchers and baby supplies to be distributed to evacuees in east Houston. Hosanna serves as drop-off point for local food and clothing donations.

Operation Blessing gave a cash grant to Community in Action for purchase of food vouchers, clothing and baby supplies. This Houston volunteer organization has mobile teams focused on helping evacuees housed in Houston motels and hotels. OBI also funded $10,000 to Somebody Cares Beaumont, TX to assist them in care of 1,200 evacuees housed in Ford Center.

9-1-05

OBI's partner outreach center Somebody Cares Houston (SCH) is coordinating efforts to accommodate thousands of refugees streaming into Houston from New Orleans. Many refugees have been in Houston for days and are out of money. Dozens of churches are acting as shelters and calling SCH for cash and supplies. OBI wired $50,000 to them yesterday for cots, blankets, food and water. SCH is also providing cash vouchers for groceries, and OBI sent staff to Houston last night to assist SCH in coordination efforts.

In Baton Rouge, OBI partner outreach center Johnny Green's The Healing Place Church reports 100,000 refugees now in Baton Rouge. THPC is feeding thousands of meals a day. OBI sent two truckloads of food yesterday and will send more today.

Salvation Army is feeding on the fringes of New Orleans, Hattiesburg, Gulfport, Long Beach, Mobile and other locations. OBI trucks support these and other Salvation Army and Southern Baptist relief efforts.

8-31-05

The National Guard still has the hardest hit areas sealed off in all three states. OBI trucks are waiting along with other relief groups to be able to move into the disaster-ravaged regions. Strategy meetings continue with FEMA and other relief groups.

Truckloads of food, water and emergency supplies were delivered to Salvation Army staging areas in Baton Rouge, Hattiesburg, Jackson and Pensacola.

8-30-05

With the magnitude of Hurricane Katrina’s destruction still unfolding, Operation Blessing teams are on the ground along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Hardest hit areas are Mississippi and Louisiana. New Orleans is inundated with floodwaters.

OBI is collaborating with emergency officials and making final assessments of the heavily-impacted areas. Together with partner agencies like the Salvation Army, a large-scale disaster response is unfolding.

Truckloads of food and mobile kitchen equipment have been delivered by OBI to Salvation Army staging areas in Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida.

8-29-05

Hurricane Katrina came ashore this morning with destructive fury. Winds topped 145 mph and torrential rainfall inflicted widespread damage and flooding along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

With urgent needs continuing to emerge, Operation Blessing's disaster relief team is readying a large-scale response throughout the affected areas. Six of Operation Blessing’s tractor trailer trucks have been dispatched to pick up food, cleaning kits and relief supplies for delivery to those impacted by the storm.

As damage assessment continues, OBI is working with local churches and other non profits to determine strategic and effective ways to bring aid to those struggling to cope in the aftermath of the brutal hurricane.

Gideon Christian Fellowship Relief Ministry, - cont.

This is a critical time for our region and nation. Our goal is to assist New Orleans area residents with information about obtaining employment, finding means of transportation and finding food and shelter. This is a momentous task which even the Federal Government is having trouble assessing. However, the Lord has given us strategies as to how to operate at this time. This is the time for the church to arise and be a beacon of light.

Rebuilding our city will take tremendous resources, especially monetary resources. The most critical needs for GCF at this time are finances, facility and transportation. We will greatly appreciate anything which the Lord might lay on your heart to give.

The New Orleans area is devastated both physically and emotionally. People are hurting and need spiritual direction. The harvest is plentiful. We thank you for helping us in providing both bread and the Bread of Life to the needy of our region. All gifts are tax deductible.

Funds can be deposited at any:

Chase Bank

Route number: 065400137

Account number: 699068318

Or

Mail to:

Gideon Christian Fellowship Relief Ministry

P.O. Box 728

Cecilia, LA 70521

May God richly bless you please pray for us.

Sincerely,

Willie F. Wooten

Apostle

Gideon Christian Fellowship, New Orleans, Louisiana

504-615-8484 or 504-812-9376

www.gideonchristianfellowship.com

williewoote@yahoo.com or lesaellison@aol.com