Crosspoint returns from relief mission

By Steven Jones
The Selma Times-Journal
Delivering much-needed — and in some cases life-saving supplies — made Teresa Edwards and the rest of Crosspoint Christian Church volunteers thankful and humble, Edwards said.
“It just really touched my heart,” she said.
Crosspoint Christian delivered an 18-wheeler of supplies to Spanish Fort where they were separated and delivered to other areas in South Alabama and Mississippi.
“They break bulk and ship it out to the various small communities,” she said. Many of these communities, places like Pineda Island and Bayou La Batre, haven’t gotten help from FEMA and other aid providers,” Edwards said.
Edwards said the United Methodist Church in Spanish Fort put together a distribution center at their youth center, the Gathering Place.
Formerly a retail outlet, the Gathering Place was perfect for the job, Edwards said. The location featured loading docks and lots of space. Supplies were delivered in pallet form to the Gathering Place. Volunteers broke the pallets down and shipped supplies out to other communities and cities.
Edwards said the level of organization was impressive.
“It blows you away of what people can do when they have to,” she said.
Edwards said she and other volunteers got to spend some time helping out in Bayou La Batre and Pineda Island.
Pineda Island was featured in the Times-Journal when Pineda Island resident Don Chamberlain came to the paper to ask for help for his home.
“Everyone just had tears in their eyes thanking the city of Selma,” Edwards said. “It just really touched my heart.”
Edwards said she and the rest of the Crosspoint Church family were thrilled to help out and made sure United Methodist members knew they cared.
The Selma church delivered a sign along with all their supplies, telling Spanish Fort volunteers they were praying for them.
“They needed encouragement,” she said. “To know people were thinking about them and cared.”