2008 Woodie Awards
BCM helps rebuild town
Christy McGee
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Features
Members of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry spent their fall break helping the residents of Gulfport, Miss. who continue their recovery.
Hurricane Katrina hurled a 42 foot wall of water onto the Gulfport shore when it hit Aug. 29, 2005. It has been two years since the hurricane wiped out the town and life has still not returned to normal for the residents.
BCM students partnered with The Grey Hut, a non-profit organization that strives to help the people of Gulfport restore their houses as well as their lives. Several projects were completed during fall break including painting the interior of two houses, framing a house and cleaning out a storage shed.
This trip marks the fifth time the BCM has traveled to the coast to help with the restoration of the area. The BCM relies heavily on funds provided by the Tennessee Baptist Convention Disaster Relief to help with the travel costs. Through their financial support a group of students has been able to make the trip to the Gulf Coast twice a year since the hurricane hit.
"Since October 2005 we have helped build and rebuild many houses and have seen faith and hope restored to many who thought they had lost everything," said Jim Alexander, the BCM campus minister.
Many of the residents were scammed by contractors in the weeks and months following the hurricane. A local resident noted that she has learned not to pay for the work before it is completely finished. The volunteers that have traveled to the area have had a positive impact on the town and have been able to complete the work at no cost to the families.
"Our city is six miles long and one mile wide surrounded on three sides by water. Since the hurricane we have found out that our city is 50 states long and 50 states wide surrounded by Americans," said Chipper McDermott, Mayor of Pass Christian, Miss.
This team of students is not only providing workers and tools to rebuild houses but also to restore the faith of so many of the people affected by the hurricane.
"The local residents on the gulf are looking for hope and reassurance that the nation still cares. We send our teams down year-after-year to show them that we are more than willing to help and comfort them in their time of need," said Ben Tarver, president of the BCM.
"The BCM will continue to to give up our fall and spring breaks to go help rebuild houses and homes from the Mississippi Coast to New Orleans for many years to come. We hope many students, faculty and staff will go with us," Alexander said.
Those interested in the spring break mission trip to New Orleans, La. should contact Jim Alexander at 647-6940.
Hurricane Katrina hurled a 42 foot wall of water onto the Gulfport shore when it hit Aug. 29, 2005. It has been two years since the hurricane wiped out the town and life has still not returned to normal for the residents.
BCM students partnered with The Grey Hut, a non-profit organization that strives to help the people of Gulfport restore their houses as well as their lives. Several projects were completed during fall break including painting the interior of two houses, framing a house and cleaning out a storage shed.
This trip marks the fifth time the BCM has traveled to the coast to help with the restoration of the area. The BCM relies heavily on funds provided by the Tennessee Baptist Convention Disaster Relief to help with the travel costs. Through their financial support a group of students has been able to make the trip to the Gulf Coast twice a year since the hurricane hit.
"Since October 2005 we have helped build and rebuild many houses and have seen faith and hope restored to many who thought they had lost everything," said Jim Alexander, the BCM campus minister.
Many of the residents were scammed by contractors in the weeks and months following the hurricane. A local resident noted that she has learned not to pay for the work before it is completely finished. The volunteers that have traveled to the area have had a positive impact on the town and have been able to complete the work at no cost to the families.
"Our city is six miles long and one mile wide surrounded on three sides by water. Since the hurricane we have found out that our city is 50 states long and 50 states wide surrounded by Americans," said Chipper McDermott, Mayor of Pass Christian, Miss.
This team of students is not only providing workers and tools to rebuild houses but also to restore the faith of so many of the people affected by the hurricane.
"The local residents on the gulf are looking for hope and reassurance that the nation still cares. We send our teams down year-after-year to show them that we are more than willing to help and comfort them in their time of need," said Ben Tarver, president of the BCM.
"The BCM will continue to to give up our fall and spring breaks to go help rebuild houses and homes from the Mississippi Coast to New Orleans for many years to come. We hope many students, faculty and staff will go with us," Alexander said.
Those interested in the spring break mission trip to New Orleans, La. should contact Jim Alexander at 647-6940.
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