National Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) Foundation and members of LIBA (Liberians in Birmingham, Alabama, Inc.) have teamed up to send a 40-foot ocean container filled with dry goods to Liberia “to aid residents who face a growing hunger crisis as a result of the Ebola outbreak.”
But they can’t do so until it’s full.
As the virus sweeps across Liberia and other surrounding countries like Sierra Leone and Guinea, those suffering from the virus and family members left at home to fend for themselves are in need of food.
On Sept. 20 and 27 several Alabama Baptist church members, community members and others brought rice, beans, canned meat and other dry goods to donate to the Help Liberia Food Drive at Mountain Brook Baptist Church, Birmingham, where the container was housed, and Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, Birmingham.
Many gave what they could and the original plan was to send the container by the end of September. But as that timeframe approached, David George, WMU Foundation president, realized the effort needed more time.
In order to see the container filled and allow more churches to participate in the effort, the deadline for donating goods has been extended to Oct. 18. Drop-off locations include Mountain Brook Baptist; Sixth Avenue Baptist; Shades Crest Baptist Church, Bluff Park; and Brewster Road Community Church, Birmingham. Drop-off times are Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The WMU Foundation also is collecting financial gifts through the WMU HEART (Humanitarian Emergency Aid for Rebuilding Tomorrow) Fund to help purchase food and ship the container to Liberia. To give online, visit wmufoundation.com or mail a gift to WMU Foundation, 100 Missionary Ridge, Birmingham, AL 35242.
A “packing party” will take place Oct. 18 as the donated goods will be packed into the container, prayed over and sent off, George said.
“This will be an ongoing need,” George noted, so sending the container once it is filled will be the best option to help those facing the hunger crisis.
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