Food Drive and Katrina Update

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In case you missed it, Jim Thomason sent out the following email message regarding our disaster relief efforts.

After pledging 100,000 Bibles and $50,000 in employee matching funds (hopefully $100,000 eventually), the Company has been looking for a third channel for those who want to give material aid to Katrina victims. To date, the company has sent $55,762 (half employee money and half company match) to Samaritan’s Purse, who is using that money to purchase and distribute personal hygiene items to flood victims. A truck will leave here this weekend with our first shipment of 23,040 bibles bound for three distribution points in Texas.

After careful consideration of our options, the Disaster Response Committee has recommended, and Senior Leadership has approved, that we support the Second Harvest Food Bank here in Nashville as it struggles to provide food for Katrina victims sheltered in Middle Tennessee.

Several thousand refugees are here, or on their way here, and this overwhelms the capacity of local charities. Our money and bibles are going to the gulf region, so we believe our remaining charity should be directed locally to Katrina victims in our own backyard. Second Harvest reports that many of those whom they are currently helping are large families with small children who arrived here with nothing. They have an immediate need for:

  • Diapers
  • Wipes
  • Formula
  • Small boxes of cereal
  • Canned fruit with pop-top lids (so a can opener is not required)
  • Peanut butter
  • Crackers
  • Individually wrapped snack items such as granola bars, cereal bars, etc.

Please bring your items to the Human Resources department. We have a set of cubicles reserved to keep those items until we can transport them to Second Harvest, who is unable to come get them due to the demands on their time for distributing food. We plan to take these over about twice a week, but if anyone has a truck or large trunk and can take those more often we’re glad to have the help.

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  • http://blogs.salon.com/0002889/ Marijo Cook

    Y’all are doing good work. FYI, however, Second Harvest, although it is located in Nashville, distributes food to all 50 states and beyond. And what’s more, because they utilize volunteers so effectively, 100% of your donations can go to relief instead of funding the orginization’s employees and fund-raisers. They do good work, as well.

    Go here for more information:
    http://www.secondharvest.org/site_content.asp?s=316

  • http://www.patternsoffaithfulness.com Wayne Dell

    Reading some comments about Nelson’s decision to send Bibles to the Katrina area and the affected evacuees, I was disappointed. Along with material supplies, which America in general is responding to in an overwhelming fashion, Nelson has chosen to also highlight their primary focus – bringing hope and encouragement to people through their Christian products. The people who are suffering need food, shelter, hygenic products, etc., but most of all, in Jesus’ words, they need to come to Him. Sending Bibles is a company product-focused natural decision, as is bringing the message of love, comfort and hope. These two needs are are not oxymoronic. Blessings on Michael Hyatt and the folks at Nelson to hold true to practically meeting material needs, but moreso to meeting the spiritual needs and humber of those affected by this tragedy. Jesus always cared for others through the truth of God’s Word first, put into practice by his teaching and his love for all manking.

  • http://www.patternsoffaithfulness.com Wayne Dell

    Reading some comments about Nelson’s decision to send Bibles to the Katrina area and the affected evacuees, I was disappointed. Along with material supplies, which America in general is responding to in an overwhelming fashion, Nelson has chosen to also highlight their primary focus – bringing hope and encouragement to people through their Christian products. The people who are suffering need food, shelter, hygenic products, etc., but most of all, in Jesus’ words, they need to come to Him. Sending Bibles is a company product-focused natural decision, as is bringing the message of love, comfort and hope. These two needs are are not oxymoronic. Blessings on Michael Hyatt and the folks at Nelson to hold true to practically meeting material needs, but moreso to meeting the spiritual needs and hunger of those affected by this tragedy. Jesus always cared for others through the truth of God’s Word first, put into practice by his teaching and his love for all manking.