Tuskegee Lee Association disaster relief coordinator considers work ‘blessing’

It’s been a fast-paced few months for William Letlow. As the disaster relief coordinator for Tuskegee Lee Baptist Association, Letlow has worked to assemble disaster relief teams and deploy them to areas in need.

He has sent a number of disaster relief volunteers statewide since the April 27 tornadoes. Volunteers have gone to Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Cullman, Ragland and Dadeville.

But Alabama isn’t the only state that has benefitted from their efforts.

Shortly after Hurricane Irene wreaked havoc on the East Coast in late August, Letlow and a team traveled to Greenville, N.C.

Letlow’s personal journey in disaster relief work began in 2004 when he accepted an invitation to attend a meeting about the subject. “It sparked my interest,” he said.

He went through his first training session at the association’s office in 2006. But it wasn’t until this year that Letlow said his work really began.

When Bill King, director of missions for Tuskegee Lee Association, asked him if he would serve as disaster relief coordinator, he said he was a bit hesitant at first but soon accepted the task.

Shortly after assuming the role, Ron Warren, state coordinator of cleanup, recovery and chain saw, asked Letlow if he could assemble a team to serve in a tornado-ravaged area of Mississippi.

When the April 27 tornadoes hit Alabama, Letlow again delved into disaster relief mode. “It’s just been busy ever since,” he said. However, Letlow views the work as a blessing.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity for [witnessing],” he said. He explained that a chaplain travels with all teams and oftentimes a team prays with a family or person it has assisted.

“I feel a blessing being able to go and help somebody,” Letlow said.

While a districtwide disaster relief training course was recently offered at Union Grove Baptist Church, Opelika, where Letlow is a member, he said finding more people to train is ongoing.

Letlow encourages anyone interested in becoming involved in disaster relief to visit www.sbdr.org and click on the “Training” link.  (TAB)