Staten Island warmth provided by Texas Baptists

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STATEN ISLAND, New York—A little extra warmth for the Christmas season arrived just in time for survivors of Hurricane Sandy.

A day after the Church at the Gateway ran out of donated space heaters for survivors of the storm, 54 more showed up—along with other supplies—as a special delivery from Texas Baptists.

Cliff Scrutchin (right) from Sugar Creek Baptist Church in Sugar Land works on Staten Island, unloading supplies for survivors of Hurricane Sandy. (BGCT PHOTO)

Through the Baptist General Convention of Texas disaster recovery program, congregations and individuals donated heaters, generators, blankets, cleaning supplies, gifts cards and boxes to help Staten Island residents affected by Sandy stay warm and continue the long-term recovery process.

Jenny Wilen, who is coordinating Church at the Gateway’s response effort, said the donated supplies from Texas will supply congregations the tools they need to provide practical help for people who still are hurting in the wake of the storm.

In the process of meeting needs, Staten Island Christians can share the gospel with their neighbors.

“The space heaters, it means (storm survivors) can keep warm at night,” Wilen said. “The other items, it means they can save their money for the rebuilding effort. The biggest thing is they know someone cares.”

Churches and groups that participated in the collection drive include Friendship Baptist Church in Caldwell, Hampton Road Baptist Church in DeSoto, Cornerstone Baptist Church in Dallas, Ellis County Disaster Relief Network in Waxahachie, First Baptist Church in Canyon, as well as congregations from the Dallas, Ellis and Guadalupe Baptist associations and the Top of Texas and FIRM Baptist areas.


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Peter Thompson of Sugar Creek Baptist Church in Sugar Land unloads supplies for survivors of Hurricane Sandy.

Cliff Scrutchin and Peter Thompson, members of Sugar Creek Baptist Church in Sugar Land who saw the devastation on the news and felt compelled to respond, delivered the supplies.

Scrutchin’s wife, Marilyn, first voiced a desire to help people affected by Sandy, and her husband responded.

As the Houston-area residents know by having gone through hurricanes themselves, recovery following such a significant weather event takes years. Texans should not forget those struggling on Staten Island, Scrutchin urged.

“The problem isn’t over,” he said. “In Houston, we don’t see much news on this anymore. It’s out of sight, out of mind. But it’s not over.”

Thompson said he and Scrutchin witnessed God’s fingerprints on every step of the operation—from picking the perfect size truck, to coordinating the pick-up of the supplies, to moving Texas Baptists to provide specific needed items.

“The Lord was in it all the way,” Thompson said.

For additional information on how to minister to the long-term recovery needs in Staten Island as well as several other places, visit the Texas Baptist disaster recovery’s website at www.texasbaptists.org/disaster.


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