ROGERS, Ark. — Southside Church of Christ is acting as a hub for the Church of Christ Disaster Relief Effort, which is an organization that holds semi-trucks full of resources available at a moment's notice when disaster strikes.
After storms blew through Northwest Arkansas on May 26, the church sprang into action.
"It's about the fellowship. It's about caring for people. It's about the love that we find in the Rogers Community. Neighbors helping neighbors," said Paul Woodhouse, a pastoral minister for Southside.
The community is invited to come to the church anytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. They have take-home items as well as things you can borrow like generators and chainsaws.
"We allow them to go through the building and kind of shop for the things that they need," Woodhouse said.
"They will deliver trucks full of goods, cleaning supplies, linens, bedding, and sometimes clothing and diapers, and food items that are nonperishable," said Amy Dotson, a volunteer and member at Southside. "We've opened the doors to let people and to come get some of those things without electricity. That way they have ways to eat and just take care of their basic needs."
The church said they get a truckload in at 7 a.m. and most of the resources are gone by 5 p.m. Southside is no stranger to storm damage however, as they're located very close to where Rogers saw lots of damage.
"The building was unusable Sunday morning," Woodhouse said. "Glass blew in at tremendous speeds. It tore up projection screens."
"We got some water damage," Woodhouse added. "We've had some roof damage on this building."
However, the damage isn't stopping them from serving others.
"Rogers is exactly what I thought it was, and it is the place that I want to raise my kids in because even in times like disasters, they come together, and we help one another," Dotson said.
"This daunting challenge of rebuilding a city that has taken such a blow from apparently several tornadoes. To see the love and the help. It means everything," Woodhouse said.
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