Twenty Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers from Twenty Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers from three East Tennessee Baptist associations worked in the Kingston area Feb. 20. They cleared downed trees from roadways, reported Don Owen, DR director, Nolachucky Baptist Association, based in Morristown. Besides Nolachucky Association, DR volunteers from Knox County Baptist Association, based in Knoxville; and Jefferson County Baptist Association, based in Jefferson City, also served.
By Baptist and Reflector
BRENTWOOD — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief teams are responding to damage caused last week by ice storms across the state.
Most of the response work took place in East Tennessee and has occurred at the local level, said Mike Overcash, interim Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief director.
Teams from First Baptist Church, Concord, in Knoxville; Knox County Baptist Association; Nolachucky Baptist Association; Jefferson County Baptist Association; and Big Emory Baptist Association have taken the lead in helping to clear downed trees caused by ice and snow storms, Overcash said.
“The teams in East Tennessee have been working hard,” he added.
The weekend ice storm also created major ice issues in many Middle Tennessee counties.
Overcash said that a team from Hermitage Hills Baptist Church, Hermitage, was scheduled to serve in Putnam County on Feb. 23. Teams from Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, and First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, were set to serve in White County while a combined team from Nolachucky Association and Knox County Association were heading to the Crossville area, he added.
Teams sent out on Monday will work through the end of the week, Overcash said.
Amid reports of outside companies charging for clean up services, Overcash reminded Tennesseans that many volunteer agencies across the state, including Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief, provide such services at no cost.
“We do it because we are trying to share Christ,” Overcash said.
“As we provide services we are not only interested in clearing trees. We also want to get involved in people’s lives as much as they will allow us.”
To report damage or to request volunteers, contact Overcash at (615) 714-9320 or Elizabeth Holmes at (615) 371-7926.
