Bread of Life International

Area pastors taking aid effort to Mississippi communities

Valley group collecting supplies for inland towns hit by Katrina.

By Kathy Lauer-Williams
Of The Morning Call

A group of local pastors unveiled a plan Thursday to raise at least $15,000 in cash and donations for Hurricane Katrina victims living in areas of Mississippi overlooked by national relief efforts.

Spearheaded by Allentown pastor Rick Tunis, the group plans to take two or more trucks loaded with goods to a church in Hattiesburg, Miss., that is coordinating relief efforts for small communities north of Gulfport.

The Rev. Gary Kantola of Our Father's House in Catasauqua said he learned from a pastor friend in Alabama that there were hurricane-damaged areas north of Biloxi and Gulfport that hadn't been reached by the American Red Cross or Salvation Army.

''We realized these small communities were not being helped, even though the hurricane also did a lot of damage inland,'' Tunis said.

So Tunis, pastor at Living Word Fellowship, sat down at his computer and started calling all of the churches he could find in Gulfport, but phone service was still out in the area.

He started working his way north, unsuccessfully calling churches until the phone finally rang at Central Baptist Church in Hattiesburg.

The pastor there, the Rev. Ray Joslyn, told Tunis the church was collecting donations of food and other items and distributing them to people in areas where the ''need is huge.''

Tunis, who in 2003 started a nonprofit organization called Bread of Life to provide food for people in drought-stricken Malawi, decided to focus relief efforts on the neglected areas of Mississippi.

''I've been to Africa three times, but this is the first time I'm doing anything for the United States,'' he said.

Tunis brought his plan to a gathering of about 40 pastors Thursday at New Covenant Church in Bethlehem.

''We have to work quickly,'' said Tunis, who hopes to raise the money and collect enough goods to fill two trucks by next Friday.

Tunis said the highest-priority items are nonperishable foods including canned goods, peanut butter, cereal, crackers, juice and sports drinks with electrolytes.

He said additional needs include children's Tylenol, ibuprofen, diapers, toothpaste and toothbrushes, deodorant, soap and shampoo, as well as cleanup supplies including mops, brooms, paper towels and cleaners with disinfectants.

The group hopes to leave at 8 a.m. Sept. 26 with two trucks and return Sept. 30.

''The churches are stepping in,'' Tunis said. ''The world needs to know Jesus cares.''

Kantola said donations of food and personal care items can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at Our Father's House, 706 Bath Ave., Catasauqua.

Money can be sent to Bread of Life International, P.O. Box 3237, Bethlehem, 18017, or call Tunis at 610-866-6108.

kathy.lauer@mcall.com