The following article, which appeared in today’s Akron Beacon-Journal newspaper, focuses on hurricane relief work being done through the Grace Brethren Church of Norton, Ohio (Bob Combs, pastor).
Helpers needed to load supplies
Two trucks of donations will go to Katrina relief
By Kymberli Hagelberg
Beacon Journal staff writer
A group that set out to adopt survivors of Hurricane Katrina is seeking volunteers to help load supplies bound for the Gulf Coast.
“Operation Adoption” has collected enough food, clothes and supplies to fill two trucks for Gulfport, Miss., and Forest Park, Ark. The group, however, is struggling to process a warehouse full of supplies before the trucks head south Friday.
The group was created by Norton resident Michelle Edwards shortly after the Category 4 storm made landfall in August.
Edwards parked a semitrailer at Grace Brethren Church in Norton until Oct. 10. The church’s children’s mission raised $1,000 for fuel for the trip, and its North American Mission program donated $3,000 for groceries.
Belinda Barton, an Akron woman who spent her childhood in Gulfport, will distribute the supplies.
“When I was young, the people of Gulfport shared their time and their families with me,” Barton said Friday. “I don’t know where I would be without them.
“We’re going to work with a church while we’re down there. We’ll keep cooking and passing out what we have until it’s all gone.”
Chris Adams of Twinsburg provided the truck that will be used in the delivery. His company, G SYS, has created a computerized crash-avoidance system that will be tested on the trip.
“We needed to see how it works on the road, anyway, so why not do it when you can also do some good. We were going to Arkansas, and we met Belinda (last) Monday. It’s amazing how the Lord has brought everything together.”
To volunteer or make a donation, contact Barton at 330-958-3430 or Adams at 330-723-3530.