Asbury United Methodist Church Lafayette is converting part of its campus into an emergency warehouse.
The church is serving as a distribution center for United Methodist Disaster Relief, said the Rev. John Cannon Sr. pastor at the church.
Truckloads of supplies are coming to the church from all over, as Methodist churches in Texas, North Carolina, Alabama and other states across the southeast, he said.
"This is the first shipment of many," he said, indicating a truck being unloaded. "It's from churches in Houston who did a big collection and filled up this truck."
More trucks are expected, and the shipments will continue as the recovery process continues, he said.
"We're essentially operating as an emergency warehouse. We're going to receive the donations and then distribute them through the relief agencies," Cannon said. "It's going to help people all over the Lake Charles region."
They have everything from building materials to diapers, he said.
All of the people unloading the truck are volunteers, he said.
They're church members or "just people in the community who know what we're doing here. I hope they have a sense that they've helped people and they've shared the love of Jesus Christ with people in a community that's been hard hit, and they've given something to help people's lives get better," the pastor said.
There are many agencies and groups that also are helping, he added.
"When disaster strikes, everybody needs to step up and help. We want to do our part, because the problem is bigger than any one group of people can possibly tackle on their own," Cannon said.
Any volunteers would be welcome; if you want to help you can contact Asbury via https://www.asburylafayette.org/Default.asp/
The church will put you on a volunteer list and you'll get a call when shipments come in.
