February 3, 2006
Pastor Don Young, Genesis (Alliance) Church in Foley, Alabama, continues to spearhead a long-term relief effort in Waveland, Mississippi, where residents need outside help to rebuild their lives. CAMA provided more than $130,000 initially to the project, now called Camp Katrina. Volunteers from across the nation also have contributed their time, money, and energy as they feed people, clean up mud-soaked property, and listen to stories of survival.
Young has been on the front lines in Waveland since Katrina crashed through the small town of 7,000. Partnering with another local church in Foley, Young’s team is in phase three of its relief efforts. Phase one met immediate needs. After camping out under a big tent in a parking lot, serving meals to thousands, and dispensing clothes and personal items for weeks, Young rented a building where the goods could be stored. Then phase two began—clean up.
“We became a lean, mean, cleaning machine,” says Young. “We went into the neighborhoods and helped people gut their homes, hang sheet rock, clean up debris, and find some sort of a normal life again. This was a real challenge, since electric power still had not been restored in more than half of the area, and water and sewage were a major issue.
When Young prepared for a Christmas outreach, he planned for 14,000 people to attend the celebration in a nearby state park. What he witnessed brought Young to his knees. “We had ‘adopted’ 6,000 children and purchased toys for each one of them. We also had 6,000 blankets, lots of pillows, and tons of toys to give to all who came.”
The crowds far exceeded the volunteers’ expectations. Local police estimated more than 30,000 people in attendance. Families were lined up for city blocks, and cars were backed up for miles. “That Sunday evening was a God moment in the lives of thousands of people. It was an awesome evening.”
The work isn’t finished. Phase three of Camp Katrina is all about rebuilding. Young’s team is helping to reframe, reroof, and rebuild the homes of Waveland residents. “We need people who are skilled in construction to volunteer,” Young says, “but not only professionals.”
Because many churches have networked and combined resources, the Waveland relief efforts continue to impact the community. “There is no human benefit or glory as a denomination,” says Young. “These volunteers are being the Church.”