Ways to Serve In Disasters

February 1, 2017

MD/DE Disaster Relief is a mission effort of Maryland/Delaware Baptist working to provide relief to those who find themselves victims of disasters in Maryland, Delaware, the U.S. and around the world.

We work in partnership with the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Baptist Conventions, agencies and other national and international partners to bring relief and hope to those in need.

We welcome the help of those called to serve in this ministry using their gifts and skills.

Our disaster relief ministry team is made up of several hundred trained volunteers from the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware congregations.

Ways to Serve

Our volunteers demonstrate God’s love in practical ways such as:

  • Feeding:  Providing hot meals,
  • Recovery:  Removing fallen trees from roofs and making temporary home repairs so that families can move back home after a disaster.
  • Chaplaincy:  Provide Chaplain services to meet spiritual needs to those affected by a disaster.
  • Shower/Laundry:  Provide hot safe showers and laundry for disaster relief volunteers and disaster victims.
  • Communications:  Provides communications support and logistics for the disaster relief units
  • In addition, our Disaster Relief volunteers mobilize and set up their ministry work as soon as a disaster occurs. They meet the basic needs of community residents and travel at their own expense for up to a week at a time in response to disaster relief (locally and across our nation).

About our Units

In addition to our trained volunteers, our disaster relief resources include several self-contained trailers or “units” owned and maintained by our partner associations.

  • Feeding Unit: Each of our two mobile kitchen feeding units is capable of feeding 5000+ hot meals per day. Volunteers serving with these units are trained in preparing nutritious meals in high-volume situations.
  • Recovery Unit:  Our two recovery units are outfitted with power equipment and generators to facilitate the work of removing fallen trees, mud out and making temporary repairs to damaged homes. Our volunteers are trained to operate this equipment in a safe and efficient manner.
  • Communications Unit:  This unit will is equipped to set up temporary communications across a disaster response area and provide logistical and tactical support for our disaster relief units. Volunteers in communications are trained in providing communications in a skilled and professional manner.
  • Shower unit:  This unit is equipped to provide hot, safe, and refreshing showers for disaster relief volunteers and disaster victims. The shower trailer ministry also supports volunteers who respond to other Southern Baptist mission events.

Our Disaster Relief Partners

In addition to our partnership with Maryland/Delaware Baptist congregations and local associations, we partner with the following:

  • North American Mission Board (NAMB)
  • Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)
  • Sister Baptist state conventions
  • American Red Cross
  • The Salvation Army
  • And other voluntary organization active in disaster response