Local Church Shelters the Cornerstone of Crisis Survival

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - In times of crisis, Hope Presbyterian Church in Cordova and Cummings Street Baptist Church in Whitehaven are often the first two churches to immediately open their doors to help those in need. They provided assistance and shelter during the last three natural disasters to affect the area: Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Gustav and the historic flooding of 2011.

FOX13's Darcy Thomas explains why both churches say to serve is the foundation of the church.

Some parishioners say it's easy to talk the talk, but it's different when you're forced to walk the walk. Or is it? Hebrews 13:16 says, "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."

For evacuee Aurelio Guereca, there was no other choice but to hope someone would share.

Speaking through an interpreter, Aurelio Says their mobile home in Frayser was under water within hours. His three small sons and pregnant wife grabbed what they could and found shelter at Hope Presbyterian on Walnut Grove.

"When the water got to his knees, then he decided for his family's well being it was time to go… They lost everything, they were able to just get out a few clothes and everything else was lost."

After taking in evacuees during Hurricanes Katrina and Gustav, Hope Church started working with Shelby County and the Emergency Management Agency to be the lead church by creating a plan for the next time a disaster happened.

According to Scott Mulholland with Hope Presbyterian, "We've got over a thousand volunteers who've been trained that were rotating through at this shelter, the five shelters 24 hours a day."

Within hours of the Mississippi River rising, Hope put its plan into action, asking for donations, cots, food, blankets, towels, and just someone to listen.

"After 12-13 days it feels like our family and we love them and we're going to take care of them as long as we need to."

Just like Hope Presbyterian, Cummings Street Baptist Church on Raines opened its doors to evacuees as soon as the flood waters started to rise, providing shelter and anything else that was needed.

"Sunday, the next day during service, [the pastor] said we will open up a shelter," said Kevin Faulkner with Cummings Baptist. "We were open by 4 that afternoon and we started receiving evacuees."

As evacuees found shelter, donations started pouring in. Cummings has an entire room filled with items. It's also had hundreds of volunteers willing to work 10 to 18 hours a day.

"We have to turn volunteers away; we may have 500 to 600 volunteers roaming throughout asking what can I do, how can I help, what do you need?"

Because of constant communication between churches, Mulholland says serving is the foundation of the church. When it comes to reaching out, "this is just in our DNA; after the last time with Hurricane Katrina, Gustav, we just got really excited about serving and being the church who cares for people."