On Tuesday I attended the Shepherd’s Center of Greater Tupelo’s annual appreciation luncheon. There were about 75 people there. Mr. Pickens and his staff at St. Luke United Methodist Church in Tupelo prepared a nice meal. Kathy Kriese, Director of the Shepherd’s Center in Hernando, was the guest speaker.
Shepherd’s Center is an organization of “Older adults, helping older adults.” People from 13 churches in Lee County work together to provide services and resources for Shepherd’s Center, such as driving, visiting, food delivery and handy-man services.
For more information about Shepherd’s Center of Greater Tupelo, read my article in the Daily Journal archives. On the DJ homepage, choose the link “Search past articles,” (in orange print). Type in “Shepherd My People” as a keyword search and fill in the appropriate fields.
Enjoy the pictures.
Peace,
Galen
Categories: Uncategorized
I talked today with Rev. Dennis Kizzire at Beech Springs Free Will Baptist Church. Those good folks are eager to help where they can. This is the brief that will run in Friday’s paper.
Beech Springs Free Will Baptist Church is offering possible help to people in the Tupelo area who might need assistance in the wake of yesterday’s storms. The Free Will Baptists have 51 churches state-wide, 34 of which are in North Mississippi. Several Free Will Baptist churches suffered damage from Hurricane Katrina. The Rev. Dennis Kizzire, pastor of the Beech Springs church, said that the denomination wants to give back to the state and its people. The church has an RV with a generator, power saws, and other tools for clearing debris. To inquire about assistance contact Kizzire at 844-0792 or Bob Birmingham at 397-6408.
Also talked to my friend Susan Gilbert at the Salvation Army, as well as Patty Tucker at the Red Cross. Here’s that brief:
Susan Gilbert, director of social services at the Salvation Army in Tupelo, said that the Army fed about 40 workers on Thursday at the Furniture Market and the Mississippi Department of Transportation. Gilbert said that the Salvation Army is ready with food, clothing, furniture, and financial aid for persons who suffered damage from Thursday’s storms. “Tupelo was very blessed,” said Gilbert, adding that the Salvation Army is “still on standby to feed and assist those working in the relief effort.” Persons wishing to inquire about aid should call Gilbert at 842-9222.
Patty Tucker, executive director of the Northeast Mississippi chapter of the American Red Cross, said that that nine Red Cross workers assessed damage in Lee, Itawamba, Pontotoc and Prentiss counties on Thursday. Tucker said that workers encountered no significant damage in Pontotoc or Prentiss counties, and only minor damage in Itawamba and Lee counties. “There was damage to some homes along Highway 371 in Itawamba County,” said Tucker. The Red Cross distributed about 30 tarps, donated by local Wal-Mart stores, to cover roofs in Itawamba County as well as in the Chesterville area of Lee County. Tucker said that the Red Cross is standing by with “plenty of tarps” as well as supplies and resources to meet the “immediate needs,” such as food and clothing, of those who suffered damage from the storm. Persons wishing to request aid should call 842-6101 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Rev. Coker at Chesterville Baptist Church told me that, as far as he knew, the churches in his area were fine.
The folks at First Baptist Church in Saltillo said that they’re fine as well. About 20 people held up there this morning as the storm blew over.
Peace,
Galen
Categories: Uncategorized
