Garage Sale Saturday!

I visited my parents over Labor Day weekend and throughout the whole visit, Madisonville was surrounded by massive fires- in Grimes County and Leon County, bordering my family's hometown. The smoke was visible on all sides and small fires became inevitable around highways and in open land. While I was there, fires raged on in Bastrop and small fires ignited all throughout Central Texas- near my home in Austin.

I have known a couple of families throughout my life who lost their homes in fires. It was tragic, truly. However, they had neighbors and friends and family who gave until it hurt so that those families could have clothes and food and shelter again.

I can't imagine entire communities being taken out. But that's exactly what has happened in Bastrop, Texas.

photo courtesy of statesman.com

And despite the enormous loss that so many people have faced in these past couple weeks, I have seen an even greater outpouring of love and generosity from people of all ages and walks of life.

Amber at Bluebonnets and Brownies is hosting an online raffle where a donation to the Red Cross's Fire Relief efforts gets you a chance at some great prizes. So far, $1500 has been raised!

There have been benefit concerts, stand up paddle board races, hair salon events and restaurants collecting to benefit those affected by the fires.

When working the cupcake trailer the other day, two young girls came by with their mom to get a cupcake each. They had been sitting in front of HEB all day selling baked goods in which all of the proceeds went to relief efforts. The 8 and 10 year old girls had wanted to help and so they did! They baked and sold and received more than the asking price for their cookies because people just wanted so much to help out somehow.

When our church was accepting donations, businesses would call and offer to help in any way they could. A Mattress Firm in Houston donated stacks and stacks of mattresses for fire victims. Westoak Woods Baptist Church contributed over $1000 from their own fundraisers.

Oak Meadow Baptist Church was, for a week, a drop off center for donations for fire victims in the Bastrop area, coordinated by the Austin Disaster Relief Network. At this point, our facility is serving as a warehouse and is housing donations until they are transported to Bastrop.

But we have an overabundance of clothing and toys, so this Saturday September 24th from 8am to 1pm the Austin Disaster Relief Network will be hosting a Garage Sale at 6905 S I-35 Austin, Texas 78744 in which all of the proceeds will go to the fire victims in Bastrop. And there is a LOT of stuff to go!

I'm not sure what all we have but I know there are new and brand name clothes, toys, appliances, etc. Please come out and look around and if you don't find anything you need, you can always just make a donation!

For more information call 512-331-2600 or email admin@adrntx.org, or 512-444-1268 and office@ombchurch.org