Tag Archive for: disaster relief

National Disaster Awareness Month

tornado destruction

Did you know that September is National Disaster Relief Awareness Month? It’s a time when we all come together to recognize the importance of being prepared for the unexpected.

At Feed the Need Missions, we’ve been on the frontlines of serving our communities on a weekly basis since 2010, offering more than just a hot meal. We provide a listening ear, meeting both physical and spiritual needs, and extending a helping hand to those who need it most.

Over the past 13 years, we’ve responded to over two dozen disasters, thanks to our dedicated volunteers, essential equipment, and available resources. Our experience has taught us that while there are some steps we can take to be prepared, each disaster is uniquely different. The best way to navigate these challenging times is by seeking wisdom and discernment from Jesus.

In recent years, it may have seemed relatively quiet on the disaster response front within our ministry. However, God has continued to nudge us and remind us of the importance of being ready. This is where we need your help.

Will you join us in prayer, seeking resources and wisdom for the preparations we need to make? Being a volunteer-heavy organization, it can be incredibly challenging to respond at a moment’s notice when our communities are in dire need.

We’re actively working on developing a solid plan, but we require volunteer leadership that shares a heart for disaster relief and understands Feed the Need Missions’ mission and vision. Additionally, we need support in retrofitting and upgrading our aging equipment to ensure we’re ready to respond swiftly when disaster strikes.

By joining our disaster relief efforts, you’re not just volunteering your time; you’re becoming a vital part of a mission that has the power to transform lives in times of crisis. Your prayers, your resources, and your commitment can make a significant difference. Together, we can ensure that when disaster strikes, we’re prepared, and our response is swift, effective, and filled with hope.

Thank you for considering how you can play a crucial role in our mission to provide relief, serve our communities, and be a beacon of light during moments of darkness. Your partnership means the world to us, and together, we can make a lasting impact.

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An Update from Arkansas

Our Mission U-Too team has made it safely to Saltillo, Arkansas. Check out this video for an update from their first day serving.

Thank you for continuing to pray for our team as they serve food, lend a listening ear, and share Christ’s love to the people affected by this devastating tornado.

Mission U-Too can still use your help to be prepared for the next time disaster hits. To give simply click the button below and designate your gift to disaster relief.

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Tornado Season is Here!

This weekend tornadoes pounded Oklahoma, Iowa, and Arkansas, killing 16 people and leaving hundreds homeless. And more storms are on their way.

These devastating storms remind us that tornado season is in full swing. Tornado season is typically March through the end of May in what is referred to as Tornado Alley. During these months, Mission U-Too is on high alert and ready to get on the road at moment’s notice to provide some relief to people displaced by these disasters.

This weekend’s event is no different. Mission U-Too is packing up a team and will be heading up to Mayflower, Arkansas, one of the towns that were the hardest hit, this evening.

Thankfully we are prepared for this disaster. But as tornado season continues on and with hurricane season around the corner, we need your help to be prepared for whatever disaster may strike next.

We need prayers for safety, provision, and for the people devastated by these disasters. And we also need financial donations that we can rely on when we have to move quickly in a time of disaster.

Can you partner with us and help Mission U-Too prepare to provide disaster relief by giving a gift today? Any amount you can give, whether it is $10, $100, or $1,000, will help us be prepared and quickly serve devastated communities across our nation.

We also appreciate you keeping our team leaving for Arkansas in your prayers this week. They will be serving food to many hurting people directly affected by these storms. Pray for safety and for comfort for those who have lost their homes and maybe even a loved one.

Again, we are so thankful for you, our Mission U-Too family, and for your support in our weekly communities and in times of disaster. We know God will show up big.

To make a donation today, simply click the button below and designate your gift to disaster relief. Thank you so much for your support, now and in times when disaster strikes.

[cro_button no=”DONATE NOW” col=”6″ addr=”https://feedtheneed.org/donate-now/”]

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Chuck, The Rabbi and Four College Girls

by Chas Winckel, Round Rock Site Coordinator

We have all seen Chuck or whatever his name is.  He is the drifter or the homeless guy.  He doesn’t make eye contact or most of us hope he doesn’t. He doesn’t smell or look good. Chuck, from a life of drugs was missing his entire bottom teeth except for 2 smoked stained stubbed teeth sticking out towards his bottom lip.  His long dirty blonde hair was tied in a ponytail down the middle of his stained Iowa Hawkeyes tee shirt.  He rode up on his squeaky bicycle with that homeless look.  You know the one that I am talking about.  Alone, dejected, ashamed and sure that we were going to judge him.

His first question to me was, “Can I help you?”  You see I was standing outside of the church in Moore, Ok that we have been serving alongside for the past 3 weeks, which the storm had not been kind to us the night before.  It was about 7:00 am on Sunday morning and the storm had destroyed all of the tents. I was feeling alone, dejected, ashamed and sure that he was going to judge me.  With those four words of Can I help you the spirit of God bound us together for the day.  Chuck and I worked together all day feeding the people in need of Oklahoma.  We talked about the stories of life and the will of God and how much God loved him.  I must have told Chuck a couple of dozen times during the day how much God loved him.  It was worth the trip to Moore just to see the change in Chuck and for him to know that Jesus loves him.  Chuck will be helping the team up there serve food and helping out over the next week. Please pray for Chuck to find a job so that he can move on to what God is doing with him.

I noticed him as a large group came up which I thought were coming to eat.  He had on a Phillies cap and introduced themselves as a group from Chicago.  I kidded him about a Chicago guy who was wearing a Phillies hat and asked him how we could help him.  He said that they had brought a group over from Chicago and they had to catch a plane back later tonight and wanted to see if they could help out.  He asked what we do and I told him that we were being the hands and feet of Jesus. He then introduced himself as Rabbi Mason and we stared at each other and then hugged and I said, “Were glad you’re here.”  He then took his team and they delivered meals and cold water out to the neighborhoods.  The lines that are normally there between the Jewish faith and that of Christians were erased for that day and we stood shoulder to shoulder and served God by serving the people of Moore, Oklahoma.

The Budget rental truck pulled up into our parking lot and this boundless energy came out of the truck and the other car that was with them.  Four college age girls had driven from Tampa, Florida to make donations for the victims of the tornados.  They had felt lead after seeing the devastation on the news to help out.  They put up a website and raised over $6,000 dollars and supplies and then drove for 27 hours to deliver it. One of them went to church occasionally and the others were not Christians but their hearts were being turned by God to direct them to Mission U-too.  We had a chance to spend time with them as we all unloaded the truck and then they even served with us for a while. Then they went and bought more supplies for us and even came back the next day to spend some more time with us. They said that this trip had changed their lives and that they couldn’t wait for the next disaster.  Then she looked at me and smiled and said you know what I mean, right?  I did know what she meant.  You see it is very fulfilling to serve.

I drove home on Sunday Evening.  I was tired both physically and spiritually and even though exhaustion was setting in I felt energized by the previous few days.  I have not even touched on the incredible stories of loss and hurts and hopelessness that are felt in Oklahoma now and well into the future. These people have gone through life changing events and it will be a part of their history that will be talked about for years. To experience what Mission U-too is about please consider attending one of our local mission events.  We cook food every week for people in need, the homeless, the addicts and everyone who needs a free meal.  People come and join us at first because of the free food and then they keep coming back for the hugs.

When you feed people physically they start to trust and build relationships around the food table.  Then they become part of a family and that allows us then to sow into them spiritually.

You see we love, because He first loved us.

Chas Winckel started serving with Mission U-Too in 2011 with the Bastrop Fires. After a year of God put it on his hart to get more involved with Mission U-Too, him and his wife Laurie started our Round Rock location and serve as the site coordinators.

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We are heading to Oklahoma and need YOUR help!

Yesterday a hugely destructive tornado hit Moore, Oklahoma taking many lives and leaving many people homeless. As most of you know a large part of what we do at Mission U-Too is disaster relief, both in our own communities and to those around us. It has been a tough month for disasters and it doesn’t look like it is going to get any better anytime soon.

We are packing up tomorrow and heading to Oklahoma to serve and offer support to their community. We need your help and we need your prayers. As we prepare to head up for the next few days here are a few ways you can practically help:

  • Donate Food – We need burgers, buns and all the fixings. You can drop off donations in Llano, Bastrop or Round Rock today. Contact Jonah at jonah.beyer@feedtheneed.org to get the exact locations and times.
  • Volunteer – Not only do we need food to serve, we need people to help serve. We are looking for some more people to come with us to Oklahoma tomorrow when we head out first thing in the morning, or on Monday. If you would like to go with us, please email Jonah at jonah.beyer@feedtheneed.org today.
  • Pray, Pray, Pray – We need you to pray for the families affected as well as the first responders, but also pray for Mission U-Too and the leadership that God would use us and show us where He wants us when we get there.

As Mission U-Too continues to grow, we encourage each of you to pray about how God wants you to get involved to be His hands and feet. As much as we want you to join us and help us with this trip to Oklahoma there are many needs at home in our own communities throughout Central Texas. So get involved, let God use you to share His love. Be willing to go and give yourself up to follow Jesus.

Our prayer is that you would be inspired by the journey God has commissioned us at Mission U-Too to be on, and that it encourages you to start out on your own journey of following Christ. It’s not about Mission U-Too or anything we are doing, it is all about God and His Kingdom.

We appreciate your prayers and support as we travel to Oklahoma, as well as your support throughout our communities here in Texas. We love seeing how God uses so many people to further His Kingdom.

Donate Now >>>

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