Below is a report from Don Owen, director of God’s Warehouse Ministry in Morristown, from June 21.
MORRISTOWN — God’s Warehouse just had one of its most active seasons.
They completed flood recovery projects in Cocke County, distributing thousands of pieces of university furniture to disaster-relief partners, preparing critical medical aid shipments to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and shipping tens of thousands of pairs of shoes to six countries.
Cocke County flood response
A flash flooding struck Cocke County — primarily in the Parrottsville area — dropping as much as 11 inches of rain in three hours May 28. God’s Warehouse mobilized quickly.
Disaster relief coordinator Dale Moles led a crew that has since completed seven projects, including two full mud-out jobs, several driveways, and tile rebuilds and a bridge replacement.
The effort received significant help from Kingdom Relief Partners, an 11-volunteer flood recovery team from Lawrenceburg, Tenn., led by Kyle and Ginny James.
“The work is continuing, and we would love to have more volunteers join us,” said Don Owen, director of God’s Warehouse.
Furniture acquisition
Volunteer coordinator Doug Derreberry and his team retrieved 14 tractor-trailer loads of dorm furniture from the University of Tennessee, including more than 1,700 bunk beds with headboards and footboards, bunk frames, and mattresses.
Six truckloads have already been distributed to ministry partners and relief agencies.
“It has been a massive undertaking, but God provided every need every step of the way,” Owen said. “It is amazing to watch God at work.”
Medical aid shipments to Congo
Working alongside partner organization World Emergency Relief Team, God’s Warehouse is preparing two medical supply shipments to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to support Ebola virus aid efforts. The first shipment will go by air freight; a second, larger shipment that includes both food and medical aid will travel by ocean freight.
44,000 pairs of shoes
A donation of 44,000 pairs of shoes has kept God’s Warehouse volunteers busy for months. Each shoe must be individually inspected, trimmed, fitted with buckles where needed and then matched and paired with a rubber band. Shoes range from infant sizes to men’s size 12 and are packed approximately 200 pairs per shipping container.
The project is approximately 85% complete. Shipments have already reached Israel, Honduras, Cambodia, Syria and Ukraine. “Since January 5 of this year, we have made shipments to six countries we had never shipped to before,” Owen said. “We cannot fully explain it, but God has opened doors we never could have dreamed.” B&R — God’s Warehouse Ministries is a Morristown-based nonprofit operating seven ministry arms: Disaster Relief, Baptist Builders, God’s Warehouse Services, Harvest of Israel, Critical Medical, Katom’s Korner and Kitchen, and Drone & Swiftwater Rescue. For more information or to volunteer, call 423-312-6883.