Local Hero Helps With Disaster Relief…

Daniel, Michael, Davis, Jake and Sam 

The last month and a half has been a roller coaster ride around CSM. We have been taking in and sending out donations almost every day since the first weekend in September. We have needed a lot of helping hands to make that possible. As a small staff, we rely very heavily on our volunteer base to accomplish all the different tasks and facets of our ministry, and this past month and a half has proven that time and time again.

Jake Pratt (L) and the Vestavia crew were here working hard
to help Michael (R) sort water to send to disaster areas

There have been days that we have received truckloads of donations for the hurricane victims in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. Many of these donations were unexpected on our end, and desperately needed on the other end. To meet these emergency demands, often without any way to quickly sort, palletize and ship those donations out, gave us the opportunity to see God’s hand at work!  Seemingly every time a truck, a large donation or a need arose, God sent us people to meet that need! One such volunteer that has been with us for the last two years is our local football hero Jake Pratt from Vestavia Hills High School.

Jake and his friends from VHHS have been coming to CSM for the last couple of years to help Michael Bowen every Thursday afternoon during the school year with our food/garden ministry. This month they have been 100% dedicated to joining in the CSM disaster relief efforts. Jake has had a busy senior year at Vestavia as he made the varsity football team, scored a touchdown in his first game, and got to do an official recruiting visit to Clemson University... not to mention his school work on top! However, Jake has remained committed to his service with us at Christian Service Mission amidst all of that.  Jake and his friends have been so consistent and so helpful this past month and a half to come in and box up water bottles, sort clothes and organize donations to send to those affected by these hurricanes.

To Jake and the rest of the Vestavia Hills ‘High School to Work’ Program, thanks a ton for your continued partnership with CSM and for all that you have done to help those in need in this time of disaster! You continue to help further the vision of CSM by helping us to connect resources to needs through the transforming of lives through the Gospel of Christ! You guys are awesome!