Hurricane Helene - Disaster Relief
Following Hurricane Helene's devastation, ABCOPAD has received a number of inquiries from our churches asking if it will be organizing Disaster Relief Teams to serve in North Carolina and Florida. The First Baptist Church of Kittanning, the Hepburn Baptist Church of Cogan Station, the Hatboro Baptist Church, and the West Shore Baptist Church of Camp Hill all indicated they would be willing to lead or join an ABCOPAD Disaster Relief Team.
The area impacted by the recent hurricane is not ready to receive disaster relief teams, but it won’t be long before volunteers are needed to assist with clean-up efforts and rebuilding. If you want to be a volunteer providing immediate assistance, you might consider contacting Samaritan’s Purse or the American Red Cross. Both are solid organizations that provide crucial, immediate relief to disaster victims.
ABCOPAD will be working with congregations who express interest in serving. You can contact our ABCOPAD Administrator, Denise Veselicky, or Regional Executive Pastor, Rev. Mark Mahserjiah-Smith, if you would like to be kept apprised of disaster relief efforts.
ABCOPAD has a Disaster Relief Fund to help Disaster Relief Teams from our region. 100% of every dollar given goes to support disaster relief efforts in our Region or help teams from our Region serve.
You can also donate to the disaster relief effort through the One Great Hour of Sharing fund. You can designate your gift to go directly to Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief. Most churches give to OGHS through their local church via their monthly mission contribution. It is also possible to give directly through an online donation. Information regarding how to give directly is provided at the end of this message.
ABCOPAD will apply for One Great Hour of Sharing funds to assist Disaster Relief Teams. In 2021, ABCOPAD received funding from the American Baptist Home Mission Society through One Great Hour of Sharing, which helped send nine Disaster Relief Teams to Kentucky. ABCOPAD hopes to once again partner with ABHMS in this disaster relief effort.