Altar Call – Opelika-Auburn News

Walter Albritton

March 10, 2019

Please do something!

For three days I have tried to write this column and all I can think about is the death and suffering caused by the tornadoes that ripped through Lee County last Sunday. I lived 18 years of my life in Lee County and some of the finest people I have ever met lived in the Beauregard and Smith Station communities.

Tornado winds stronger than any dwelling could resist wounded dozens of people of all ages and robbed us of the lives of 23 good folks. Many homes and businesses were destroyed. Some people lost everything. The damage and destruction is almost unbelievable. One family lost 10 relatives and another family lost four. So tragic! All in a matter of minutes!

Once again, however, tragedy has brought out the best in people. Hundreds of people have been busy this past week helping victims recover and figure out what to do next. Truckloads of supplies have arrived providing much needed water, food, tarps, diapers, baby food and cleaning materials.

Had I not been too old to handle my chainsaw, I would have climbed on one of those trucks and shown up to do what I could. Giving blood is no longer an option for me. But I had to do something so I wrote a few checks. I heard that the greatest need is money.

I sent one donation to the pastors of the church I once served, Trinity United Methodist Church on Second Avenue in Opelika. Sean Rezek and Earl Ballard and the good folks of Trinity will use my little gift to bless some folks who need help.

I sent another check to Terry Longest and Scott Sullivan, leaders of the Deacons of First Baptist Church in Opelika. I know those fine Deacons have been using their hands in a hundred different ways to help hurting people recover. They will put my donation to good use.

Many of you reading this column have already done something to help. If you have, I imagine you felt like I did – you just had to do something! And when thousands of us pitch in and do what we can, we can make a difference. In the face of such suffering and devastation, we simply cannot sit on our hands and do nothing.

I suspect many who read this column regularly will not read it today because they will be busy sharing in the relief effort. I hope they know that this country preacher is in their balcony cheering for them for the gallant ways they are helping their neighbors.

Wednesday I learned that Trinity United Methodist Church of Opelika had set up a fund to receive donations 100% of which will go directly to victims of the tornadoes and to relief efforts. You can go to http://tumcopelika.org/give/ and designate your gift to the Tornado Relief Fund. Trinity is also hosting the “8 Days of Hope” disaster relief team for the next three weeks. If you would like to serve with one of these teams, go to https://eightdaysofhope.com/volunteer to sign up.

As you all know, the need is great. There are many fine agencies which are worthy of our best donations. If you have not already helped in some way, please do something.

Please, do something! + + +