CSM Giving Back Through Disaster Relief

Willie loading pallet after pallet onto the trucks delivering relief supplies and food

The past year has been hard for our country, but the Lord has heard the prayer of His people. While families were busy celebrating Christmas Day 2015, a tornado devastated the Hopewell community of western Birmingham. CSM was able to mobilize over 700 volunteers and help collect and distribute 200,000 lbs. of food and supplies over several months, and the work still continues.

Louisiana floods hit the Baton Rouge region hard, and Birmingham responded with amazing support for the people. The City of Birmingham and CSM were able to collect and supply four semi-truck loads of supplies to communities there. Additionally, in partnership with organizations, churches and CSM partners, we sent two teams and five more trucks for a total investment of 150,000 pounds of requested supplies.

Supplies of water in abundance

Hurricane Matthew hit last week, and we have two trucks leaving next week to help in the relief efforts. We are partnering with churches, organizations, individuals and the City of Birmingham to meet the needs of people in North Carolina. We will serve our suffering neighbors with about 40,000 pounds of supplies.

Our primary ministry focus is responsible, sustainable care for our communities. But CSM spends about 10% of our time helping with relief efforts in our city, state and country. The Lord has blessed us with a great group of partners to be a part of the Living Gospel in these extreme circumstances.

Since the super-storms of 2011, CSM has been able to mobilize thousands of volunteers and materials to help communities by unexpected disasters. 80,000 square feet of warehouse space and loading docks allow CSM to receive hundreds of thousands of pounds of food, with more than 1,000 pallets of resources typically in the Ministry Center at any given time.

With our expansive warehouse space, procurement abilities, and logistical experience, CSM is an ideal hub for the disaster relief process and has become the command station for the faith-based and broader community to immediately mobilize volunteers and resources when a crisis situation occurs. But it is your assistance and concern for others that makes it possible for CSM to respond to these needs, and we thank you!

Birmingham Police Academy volunteered to help