OKLAHOMA CITY–In the wake of tornadoes and severe storms on May 19, Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) volunteers are already making an impact. Here is more key information.
Capital Baptist Assoc. is in transit to the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center in Shawnee (1700 W Independence St, Shawnee, OK 74804), which will be the Incident Command Center for the BGCO’s DR. The volunteers plan to have a lunch today (May 20). Teams are preparing food not only for Shawnee, but also plan to transport food to Carney, Prague and Norman.
Other service efforts happening include:
- There are two DR chainsaw teams based out of the Shawnee operations center.
- A laundry trailer is being set up at Carney, First (207 N Carney St, Carney, OK)
- Two chainsaw teams are working in the Edmond area
The BGCO is currently not taking clothing donations. Monetary donations are the best help at this point. Go to www.bgco.org/donate.
Donations, such as bottled water, work gloves, boots, flashlights, batteries and non-perishable food (NO CLOTHES at this time) can be taken to:
News 9 at 7401 N Kelley Ave, Oklahoma City, OK
These donations will be taken to the Regional Food Bank to be distributed when workers can access the affected areas.
Many area churches are taking donations. Below is a list of a few in different areas of the metro:
- Edmond, First
- Bethany, Council Road
- OKC, Cherokee Hills
- OKC, Capitol Hill
- Moore, First
- OKC, Eagle Heights
- Bryan Association in Durant
To assist with hands-on volunteering, you must have current certification with BGCO’s DR operation. Training seminars for the Spring have been completed and the next training offered is the fall of 2013.
For more information, photos and news, continue to visit this website and also find us on Facebook and Twitter.
We have a team out of tyler texas with over 25 years of disaster relief experience. My name is Ashley Harrison and we have a group ready harrison@whitestoneinvestments.net
Ashely, There are definitely volunteer opportunities available however to volunteer with the BGCO Disaster Relief team you must have gone through our training programs and hold a current certification with us. If you don’t hold a certification please don’t let that stop you from volunteering, you’ll just need to find another group to volunteer with. Thanks for understanding and God bless!
Ashley – I hope your group heads to Oklahoma, even without being part of BGCO. Many hands are needed, especially experienced ones like your group.
You helped my friendsin NJ, now my tirn to help you.
Thank you for your support Ellen! God bless!
Money on the way from leesburg, Virginia , thanks for helping these folks .
Thank you so much! God bless you!
People are asking about donating for pets. Is there any place folks can send dog/cat/pet foods too?
I have heard that the Home Depot on 19th St. in Moore is taking in Animals that have been displaced. That might be the best place for pet foods at this time.
Leesburg Virginia sending money
Thank you, God bless!
Jersey here, thank you for helping us, one good turn deserves another. God bless and don’t forget the animals.
Thank you Carole! God bless!
There are definitely volunteer opportunities available however to volunteer with the BGCO Disaster Relief team you must have gone through our training programs and hold a current certification with us. If you don’t hold a certification please don’t let that stop you from volunteering, you’ll just need to find another group to volunteer with. Thanks for understanding and God bless!
Again the same generic message turning away good people who want to help… You have to be certified to help with clean up etc???
Triin, Please understand that there are plenty of volunteer opportunities with many organisations, ours however, requires that you are trained as our teams perform highly skilled services. We are first responders to situations like this and work very closely with emergency management. For this reason we can’t let people without the proper training volunteer with us. Thank you for understanding and God bless.
We have a lot of furniture and many household items we can donate to this cause. We were going to garage sell them, but we would rather donate them. Are there facilities setup yet for storing household items? I know that comes months and possibly years later after first response, but if there is a facility that will be housing these items, we could bring them by. We live in North Texas and our hearts go out to those impacted by this tragedy. My email is jasnfox@live.com.
Jason, I’m sure there are places accepting donations, however, our team is in the heart of the action and we literally do not have the resources to accept, store, and move these types of donated objects. Thank you so much for your willingness to donate and please continue looking for a place to donate them to.
Jason, if you find an organization or an address where these items can be delivered to, please let me know! Lauren.Woessner@gmail.com I have lots of items as well and have had no luck in finding where to send them. I know those things are very badly needed there.
I was wondering if there is a family that I could sponsor/help specifically, or a neighborhood that my friends and neighbors could help during this disaster
Laura, Thank you for your willingness to assist. The way our response team is setup it’s not possible to sponsor a specific individual as we help everyone that needs it. We go from house to house and we don’t stop helping until there is no more need. Our teams will be on the ground for weeks from here on out. Just know that with any donation you make 100% of it will go to help. No salaries are taken from the donations we receive. Thanks and God bless!
Greetings from the Jersery Shore. You helped us when we needed it most. We have not forgotten. Donating now.
Thank you so much Karen, God bless!
Thank you Ian, God bless!
From Union Beach NJ help is on the way. Donating now
Thank you Laura, God bless!
I live in Rhode Island. Please let us know how we can help. Janknit@mac.com
We are ready to ask our church to gather necessary items, get together a team to travel to Moore to help. Whatever is needed. If not immediately than in the days to come. God Bless
Janet Gerbutavich
My name is Christina Cox and I am the ED of Showdog911 – our membership is working to help the displaced animals of our show dog community. That said, I worked extensively with the Larimer Humane Society and directed the dog relief efforts in Windsor, Colorado. Please, if I can help – I have a good database of dog/disaster savvy volunteers with crates, food and temporary housing available. You can reach me via email easiest @ smartypantshounds@gmail.com. God Bless you all for your quick and complete support of disaster victims.
Money donated from Washington DC from a native East Texan Southern Baptist
Thank you Kelly, God bless!
Our area was hit extremely hard by tornados 2 years ago. As we helped the MANY families in our area, we now would like to help the people of Oklahoma. Our business and our community wants to donate supplies ( bottled water, and other items). We met so many wonderful church families from all over the United States who came to Alabama to help & just came over to our families property to help. To step up, lend a hand, and give us some bottled water and just a shoulder to cry on means SO very much. Please tell us how we can help. Thank you and May God be with you ALL
Is the money going to the victims or is if to pay $100,000 a year NON-PROFITEER counselors to tell the victims “You don’t qualify for any help”?
100% of all donations taken go to helping people on the ground. We do have pastors available for counseling but they are not paid with money from donations. All of the money goes to helping with food, chainsaw crews, mud out crews, laundry units, shower units, childcare, etc… All of trained disaster relief people are 100% volunteers and do not get paid.
I have a cooking team in Houston, We would like to load up and come and cook for what ever we can. If anyone can let me know something, we would be more then blessed to head that way. We can do 30 briskets at a time and no telling how many chickens. We have a stove for beans and potatoes. We have our own hot water,and we are ready to go.
From Flatonia Texas, I am sending money now. Our prayers are with you all. May God Bless and give you the Strength you need in this time of need. We are pray for the healing hand of God to touch all who need it also. Amen
Thank you Dianne, prayer is what is needed most right now. Thanks for your donation as well. God bless!
Thank you for your help at the Jersey Shore – hope this donation helps your community in this time of need.
Thank you! God bless!
Is there any way we can send a donation of stuffed animals for the children?
Hi, You might check with http://www.stuffedanimalsforemergencies.org/ about donating stuffed animals. Thanks and God bless!
just donated. I am praying for all of you. my heart goes out to all of you and all lives that were lost from this disaster………..may god and his angels surround you with much love, light and hope…………….
Alicia, Thank you and God bless!
Assisted Energy based in Dallas, TX has a fleet of solar light towers for industrial and commercial applications. They are preparing to bring some of the solar light towers to Moore. Any contact information for people needing these lights would be appreciated. Call Ken at 919-601-0503
Greeting from Illinois. My daughters traveling softball team will be playing down there starting the 30th, her whole team is looking for something they could do or bring from here. They came up with the idea to bring a inclosed trailer of supplies. Is there something we could bring you guys to help out.
Jersey Shore here to lend a hand! You have done so much for our friends and neighbors in the Northeast and we are forever greatful. Aside from monetary donations, where can we send bottled water, personal hygiene products, canned and boxed goods, etc.? We’ve started a collection here and would like to send it along. Every little bit helps! NJ is with you all during this time – may God bless you all!
Will y’all be taking donations all this week?
Yes, our Disaster Relief ministry is ongoing and we respond to disasters year round and are always accepting donations 365 days a year.
Donating now from Rochester, NY.
From Silverton, Toms River, NJ, Our prayers are with all of you. Thank you for helping us, I hope this donation helps you.
Thank you for helping my friend when she needed you the most! You guys were amazing! Thank you and good luck as you fight your own disaster at home! Sending our Love and Prayers from NJ!
Just donated!! Hope they will get help what they need.
I am a fully endorsed CDL Driver looking to help drive supplies down
to Moore. Please if anyone knows of a CDL tuck driver needed to take
relief supplies to Moore Ok contact me by text at 918-607-7900 or email
at BigRut85@yahoo.com. Again please let me know if there is any need as i
am willing to take time off to go help this relief effort.
Aaron where r u located I’m n louisiana? I’m asking cuz I would love to get pple together to donat e items, but I wouldn’t kno the 1st thing bout how it would all get there. I’m @ typhoidtoast@yahoo.com
I live in south Louisiana and have a home that I am willing to share for anyone who may need temporary housing. I can be contacted at shelley.prescott@ololrmc.com.
Just made my donation from Houston, TX. Prayers for everyone in Moore Oklahoma.
NJ loves OK! Check out the top story on Jersey Shore Hurricane News on Facebook. Your organization got some press, and over a thousand “shares.” Read the comments of people helped by this organization in the comments.
Your trucks were parked around the corner from my house for two months after Sandy hit the NJ Shore. Thank you so much for your assistance during our tragedy. Just donated to help those in your own neighborhood after your own horrific few days. God bless you all.
My friend has a food truck in Tulsa and we would like to bring it and serve food to the responders. Can you tell us where to go to get authorization? Thanks and God bless.
Our prayers are with everyone in Oklahoma….
Just sent my donation to the Red Cross I hope it helps somewhere…….I wish I lived closer to come volunteer…….
Just donated what I could today, will continue to send donations as often as possible.
I am a Firefighter/ EMT in Georgia and I really want to volunteer to help out hands-on but am having trouble finding information on who I can volunteer with or for. I can leave today to come down and help I just need some information about who I can get in contact with.
To OK I’m one of your friends from the sunshine state.I donated what I could and asking all of the great Floridain’s that can afford. To do the same. God bless
Are we able to ship supplies to News 9? My group would like to donate food and first aid supplies.
I am out of work, nut I would love to help in any way,I see y’all r not accepting clothes but what about baby items, toys for survivng kids toiletries for pple in shelters and what about pet supplies??? I’m asking cuz I don’t have cash to donate with but would love to get pple together and do like a drive, of the above items, maybe canned foods, water etc.. any ideas on how to do this??????? Please
At lauren woessner that’s what km trying to find out too, I kno kids need toys, adults needs items, pets need food. Etc..I’m in louisiana,
My prayers are with you. My family lives in Tuscaloosa, AL. Luckily they were not affected by the 1 mile wide tornado there in 2011 but I have seen first hand how something like this can rip a town a part. And I have also seen how a community can bind together and rebuild. God bless you for all that you are doing.
I live in Minnesota and I want to start making care relief baskets send them any where needed. Food, water, first aid items, toys, clothes etc. What is the best place to send these? (also going to see what my church can do to help) Please email me. chcks2004@gmail.com
i live at the jersey shore and am a still displaced Sandy victim and would like to load up a 33Ft trailer and my pickup with some needed supplies, gift cards etc. Please email me at bernieneuhaus@gmail.com with the most essentially needed items. Planning on leaving Weds evening the 29th.
Thanks
Is there an organization that could coordinate hosting children from the disaster area here in Melrose ,Massachusetts between church groups?Any info to help would be appreciated..contact John Finlay @jfinlay9@ hotmail.com or Pastor Andy
@pastorandy@faithchurchac.org or call 617-417-0583.
We will be coming in Friday morning with Clothes, and Toys for the families along with other items we will also have. Where can I deliver clothes to the families that have nothing at the tmoment?
My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this tragic time. You all helped out my family, friends and I when the tornado hit Joplin a couple years ago. Now it is our time to help you. God Bless you.
Thank you for your help at the Jersey Shore – we’ll help you now!
I am a Independant truck driver. Looking to see if there are any loads that need to be ran to help you guys out. God Bless all those helping
KS / NE Central Baptist Chainsaw / Recovery trailer stands ready to assist once called! team of 10 – 15 trained volunteers 3 hours away!
my cousin lives north of luther., His house and barn destroyed he cannot leave his farm because of animals and all of his posessions are free for the taking. He has been living out of his truck since Sunday and yesterday he was told that he will not have electricity for three weeks. Finally someone is letting him live out of a camper trailer. He has no insurance and yet has had no assistance. How can I get him some donations? Thank you
my email is Beckyk@cox.net if you have any suggestions
God Bless America and Oklahoma!!!!
Becky, please call one of the following three numbers to get assistance: 405-415-5261,
405-443-7583, 405-388-6912
Donations from Houston, TX
My prayers go out to all of you!
God Bless
Donations from Houston, TX
I’m praying for all of you! May God surround you with his loving presents.
God Bless!
Dedicated to all the Men, Women, Children, and Animals living in Moore, Oklahoma and surrounding areas we are all praying for your safety and well-being through this difficult time. Prayers are being sent your way as you grieve the loss of a loved one and praying that your able to overcome this tragedy and make your communities new and built up again. We are sorry for your losses for there are more beautiful angels in heaven above. We are proud of you for your determination in making each day better than yesterday. I have lived through a tornado in Ripon, WI back in the early 1990’s when I lived there and I’m thankful that me and my children survived.
Thank You to all the volunteers helping to renew the days ahead.
Peace, Love, Prayers and Support to Everyone
Dark stormy clouds gather in the distance
A tornado was upon the many people and their existence
Sirens sounded in the state of Oklahoma’s air
Looking outward into the outside was a tornado hitting near
As people screamed there’s a twister coming take cover
Gathering family members and finding a safe place for their survival
A split second was all they had before things go missing when it’s over
Meteorologists had been calling this a huge twister on its arrival
It hit with a tremendous wind blow
It was a persistent and over powering tornado
Peace, Love, Prayers and Support to everyone
Turning people’s homes upside down and off the ground
There wasn’t many buildings or homes to be seen anywhere around
As they protected each other when the twister struck their home town
Many miles were turned upside down
K-9’s are searching with their senses under the clouded sky
For us Humans to go in and save people still alive
Scraps of wood, shards of glass, cars over turned and crumpled in site
People walking up and down the streets with no signs to great their way
Winds exceeded faster leaving over 2000 broken homes underneath its path
Leaving about 20,000 families displaced
People shockingly shattered standing at the sight of the after-math
The tornado was a huge disgrace
Peace, Love, Prayers and Support to everyone
Together helping thy neighbor many people had stories to tell and hear
This tornado was one of the most destructive tornadoes in history
Stepping into where a person’s home once was is no longer there
Leaving many people wondering about things they can do to help is no mystery
In an instant, neighborhoods were destroyed
People were injured and many lost their lives as help was deployed
Young children were trying to take shelter in their school
Not knowing what was really happening outside
The children sheltered inside the halls as their only protective tool
People unsure of the safety of the children’s life inside
Expressions of grief and support came from across the world
Peace, Love, Prayers and Support to everyone
Wishing the tornado leaves with its powerful twirl
Many different photos had landed in yards miles from the city of Moore
Homes and belongings were now a rewritten landscape
Fences of homes were gone and unseen
Trees snapped in half and tossed in the breeze
Houses were plastered on the ground from many miles around
What can we do to help people survive on through
Around the world fundraisers and donations grew
As the tornado’s winding road left its consequences upon many faces
To view the survival of people arising from their hiding places
Peace, Love, Prayers and Support to everyone
With many treasured memories flown around
Windows broken and nails ripped out of walls that fell to the ground
There seems to be nothing left of a building or a home
From this tornado in Oklahoma was a whispering dome
As precious families were awakened
Many precious lives had been sadly taken
Through the rain and the wind many dreams picked up and tossed around
The twister took so many treasures with it from the ground
This massive tornado swept through a town near Oklahoma City
It cut through elementary schools it turned horribly creepy
The loss of children’s lives with it is devastating to all
It cut through a medical center with its unpredictable call
Peace, Love, Prayers and Support to everyone
People in buildings in need of being found under the rubble
This scary and unforeseen tornado brought many different troubles
It breaks our hearts to see our neighbors suffering
The feelings of affliction brought people pain and misery
Their pain gets lost within the cities nighttime darkness
During the night there’s an absence of light
Bringing upon the overnight stay
With the help for healing the sun will shine bright
Turning everyone’s night into another fulfilling day
Bringing from the world a connection of loving gestures
Peace, Love, Prayers and Support to everyone
With helping and guiding hands towards others
The human spirit can stretch far and wide
Walking together hand in hand by each other’s side
Grieving hearts will be touched with gentle, loving and caring hands
While letting new people from communities in
Losses are a way of saying to carry on in the honor and name of a loved one
In the eyes of our neighbors the tears keep falling in hopes of their survival
Upon the many helpful volunteers that came to Oklahoma on arrival
We all share in the sorrow that binds us together for a better tomorrow
With hopeful teardrops from the eyes of everyone in Oklahoma
There will be stronger people like you and me to heal through the sorrow
Peace, Love, Prayers and Support to everyone
Looking upon each other’s unhappy tears
Guiding them into knowing we are happy they are still here
Taking a frown on many faces and turning them upside down
On the reflection of a new day’s morning sun’s arrival
Standing side by side and hand in hand through days that will turn around
Many fundraisers will bring to you many needed things for your survival
The world continues to pray for the people of Moore city
The many surrounding neighborhoods will continue to help guide you sincerely
Donations will keep coming to help make things a little better and brighter
The world is praying for your recovery and for your losses close and tighter
Even through the toughest of times you won’t break down but, rise again
Hearts will be filled in times of need will overcome this tragedy
With heartfelt love and support the world will continue to send
Peace, Love, Prayers and Support to everyone
A person’s spirit is tougher than any brick or nail found on the ground
Nothing in this world will keep your spirits in silence
Volunteers with be with you every step of the way with guidance
Please take with you whatever is offered with kindness
Help put a smile on a child’s face that might be unsure and fearful
You’ll overcome this moment in time and be universal
Continue to raise your voices for you’ve made it through another tornado
The world of people will keep you within their hearts and prayers
So that no one is left behind or even scared
Your homes can be rebuilt
Your belongings can be replaced
Please don’t walk around with any guilt
You’ll have memories with your family and friends that can’t be replaced
Your neighborhood will once again be a pretty rewritten landscape
Your life is worth everything that money can’t buy
Each step of your way back home will be a natural and beautiful scenery
So if you need a person to lean on or a shoulder to hold you up when you cry
The world is here with you to help make it through with pride
Peace, Love, Prayers and Support to everyone
Much Love
God Bless
Written and Copyrights By: Deanna M. Culver
May 23, 2013
Minnesota here, people at my work are trying to get supplies together to send down… any place in particular we should be sending items to, or any of the churches listed above?
Maria,
I would try to contact one of the local churches listed on the FAQ page under the question ‘where can I get help’ and see if they can handle your donation. Thanks and God bless!