MORGAN CITY, La. (BP) — Mass care feeding wrapped up this week as Send Relief and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) prepared and served nearly 40,000 meals in the aftermath of Hurricane Francine’s landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 storm on Sept. 11.

SBDR expects its repair and recovery work to continue for at least another two weeks in and around Morgan City, which was the hardest-hit community.

According to Stan Statham, Disaster Relief Strategist for Louisiana Baptists, Morgan City was impacted by Hurricane Ida in 2021. “So, some of these same families are dealing with more damage, and even though the damage field is not as wide or quite as devastating, it was still a strong storm. In those areas where there’s damage, it’s bad,” Statham said.

Approximately 100 families requested SBDR clean-up and recovery assistance through their recovery site located at First Baptist Church, Morgan City. Volunteers from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee and the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention have been serving at the site, with other states expected to send volunteers over the next two weeks.

Send Relief shipped recovery items, rolled roofing, flood recovery supplies, bottled water and food — as well as equipment that helped SBDR distribute food to storm survivors.

Statham praised Send Relief for providing the supplies and food that supported Louisiana SBDR’s response.

“We’re very grateful for our partnership with Send Relief in Louisiana,” he said.

“The dedication of our SBDR volunteers always amazes and humbles me,” said Coy Webb, director of crisis response for Send Relief. “Even after serving nearly two decades leading Kentucky SBDR, I never lose my own sense of gratitude to those volunteers who drop everything to go help others when disaster or other crisis strikes.”

Earlier this week, Webb said, a chaplain who was serving alongside a recovery team was able to witness a homeowner come to faith in Christ while the team worked on the home.

“Send Relief is grateful to support their efforts as, together, we bring physical help and spiritual hope to people in need,” Webb said.

Since the storm’s damage was not as widespread, Hurricane Francine quickly faded from the news, but there are still hundreds of people reeling in the aftermath.

“When you go through a couple of these storms, and your home is damaged, it can leave you dismayed,” said Statham. “So, pray for those impacted. Pray for our volunteers. We have a lot of volunteers traveling with equipment. Pray for safety.”

Those interested can donate to Louisiana SBDR and Send Relief.

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Brandon Elrod writes for the North American Mission Board.)