Texas Baptist Men Driving Relief to New York

Around 60 local volunteers from Texas Baptist Men left for New York Friday to help victims of Hurricane Sandy.

The group is answering the call to service.  They'll be providing a warm meal and hot shower to storm survivors and giving people the nourishment and encouragement they need to clean up and get through this difficult time.

Texas Baptist Men from Dallas are sending three feeding trucks to New York City.  Each trailer can pump out about 30,000 meals every day.  It's part of a massive, country-wide effort to help storm victims struggling without power, spoiling food and a shortage of supplies.

"This is probably the largest call out for Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.  They've asked every state to send their biggest feeding unit," said Ray Gann, the feeding unit director for Texas Baptist Men in Dallas.

They'll also be coordinating childcare and setting up shower and laundry services.

"It's a Hilton on wheels," said Stan Knight, Texas Baptist Men shower unit commander. "We have three showers in this room, three over here.  We'll have three washers, four dryers. They're large capacity so we can do a lot of laundry."

They're providing the basic, daily necessities that can be taken for granted until they're gone.

"It's unbelievable what clean clothes and a shower will do on your overall outlook on things," said Knight.

This relief team is committed to volunteer for the next two weeks, but the group could be needed in the northeast for several months. 

"To help people in need is overwhelming.  It's hard to grasp someones need until you see them face-to-face.  We want to help people physically, but we also in our presence support them spiritually," said Gann.  "This is a big disaster.  There will be many needs.  We'll be there as long as they need us to be there."

More volunteers will be heading to New York in the coming days.  Chainsaw workers and mud clean-up crews will be lending a hand.  More regional feeding trucks could also be called out.

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