TBM continues relief in Weslaco, wraps up work in Connecticut

WESLACO—Texas Baptist Men and other Baptist disaster relief teams contributed more than 6,100 volunteer hours during the past two weeks, providing assistance to tornado survivors in Connecticut and flooded residents in the lower Rio Grande Valley.

TBM volunteers completed work in Southbury, Conn., where tornadoes and straight-line winds caused extensive damage. TBM crews completed 23 chainsaw jobs and logged 91 heavy-equipment hours.

In the process, they also distributed 17 Bibles, presented the gospel to at least 15 people and registered two professions of faith in Christ.

Unseasonable summer storms dumped 15 inches of rain on Weslaco in four hours June 20, flooding more than 2,300 homes.

TBM volunteers responded within three days, deploying an incident management team who established a command post at the Valley Baptist Retreat Center in nearby Mission.

One mobile shower and laundry unit was deployed to the retreat center, and volunteers staffed another unit at First Baptist Church in Weslaco.

By July 9, TBM and their out-of-state partners contributed more than 3,700 volunteer hours to the ongoing disaster relief operation in the Rio Grande Valley.

Trained volunteers assessed 190 work requests. Working alongside an Oklahoma Baptist flood recovery team, TBM volunteers began tearing out damaged drywall from homes, pressure-washing and sanitizing surfaces to mitigate mold.

Volunteer chaplains served alongside all the volunteers. TBM and their volunteer partners distributed 231 Bibles, presented the gospel more than 90 times and recorded 21 professions of faith in Christ.

To contribute financially, send a check designated “disaster relief” to Texas Baptist Men, 5351 Catron, Dallas, TX 75227, call (214) 275-1116 or click here.

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