Church helps with Haiti relief efforts
Published 11:19 am Wednesday, January 27, 2010
A Gardendale church is joining in the international effort help the victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti.
Gardendale Church of the Nazarene is collecting items, mostly medical supplies, to send to the stricken country.
A Nazarene church in Haiti has compiled a list of items most needed.
The list includes specific medications and assorted supplies such as antibiotic cream, alcohol wipes, Band-aids, thermometers, baby wipes, vitamins and many other items.
On Tuesday, Gardendale Church of the Nazarene pastor John Parrish was driving to Kansas City to drop off tents for shipment to Haiti. The tents, which are also on the disaster response needs list, will provide temporary shelter for people who have been homeless since the earthquake.
Parrish requested that people try to stick to the list when donating items.
“That list was provided to us from some of our people we had there right after the earthquake happened,” he said. “They were able to look around and see the needs.”
The effort is being coordinated through the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) and the Nazarene Disaster Response (NDR).
Parrish said that even though there have been issues with international aid getting through to Haiti, the NCM has the infrastructure in place to get the supplies to the proper locations.
“It’s really exciting to see how the community pulls together,” Parrish said. “Terrible things happen, but this is an opportunity for us to show God’s love in the midst of a disaster. We have an opportunity and it’s great to be able to respond.”
For a complete list of items needed, visit Church of the Nazarene’s Web site at www.gdalenaz.org.
There is a trailer in the church parking lot at 1800 Decatur Highway, where donations can be dropped off.