Buckets of Hope ministry assists Haiti relief efforts

Incredible as it seems, it has been over a month since the massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked Haiti on January 12^th. Relief efforts are moving forward, and Southern Baptists (since they have numerous on-going ministries and churches in the Port-au-Prince area) have been on the ground since day one, and are on board for the long haul. A ministry called “Buckets of Hope” is being coordinated by Southern Baptists to help provide food for those in such dire need. Below, you will find information supplied by the North American Mission Board (www.namb.net/bucketsofhope) about the project:

The “Buckets of Hope” ministry is just one means by which Baptists can fulfill the mandate of Jesus Christ to feed the hungry in the name of Jesus. As we are reminded in Matthew 25:40, Jesus tells us, "And the King shall answer and say unto them, 'Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.'" (KJV)
A “Bucket of Hope” consists of a plastic five-gallon bucket packed with selected foodstuffs. For approximately $30 anyone can purchase the materials and assemble a "Bucket of Hope." The food contained in a single bucket will feed a Haitian family for a week. You are also requested to include a $10 cash contribution, placed in an envelope and attached to the lid of the bucket, to offset the cost of transporting the relief buckets to Haiti.

Buckets must be packed with a specific list of food items inside. Please follow the detailed instructions carefully. This will ensure that every bucket quickly passes through customs and into the hands of the Haitian people.

By going to the www.namb.net/bucketsofhope website, those wanting to help can get a description of the required bucket, a list of items needed, and instructions on filling it. Individuals, families, Bible study groups, congregations, and others are encouraged to participate. State Southern Baptist Convention offices will be drop-off points for buckets collected by churches in their state. Here, it is the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (www.mbcb.org) in Jackson. In the South Mississippi area, Ingalls AvenueBaptistChurch, located at 4505 Ingalls Avenue in Pascagoula (http://ingallsavenue.com, 228-762-9235) has agreed to accept the buckets and get them to the state office. Filled buckets can be dropped off at the church March 8^th - 10^th, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Other sites will be announced on the www.mbcb.org site and in the Baptist Record weekly newspaper as they become known.

Rick Head, NAMB Promotions Coordinator, Adult Volunteer Mobilization (and during times of disaster relief, the Public Information Officer), says, "I want to thank people for all they are doing, especially their prayers; there is so much prayer that is needed." He mentions the basic needs, including food, water and medical care, that are being provided, and adds that "the Buckets of Hope ministry is really important in touching lives," as local churches minister to the spiritual and physical needs of the Haitians.

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