Group assists Loxley church to feed community

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LOXLEY, Alabama — A group from West Virginia assisted the Loxley Church of God to provide meals for the community following the devastation caused by Hurricane Sally.

The Beckley Dream Center, a ministry of the Beckley Church of God’s Family Worship Center in Beckley, West Virginia, travels the country providing meals to those who have suffered damage during storms.

Jaimee Hodges, wife of pastor Luke Hodges, said they had just returned from Lake Charles, Louisiana, when they got the call from Brian Wade, pastor of the Loxley Church of God.

“We both served under him at another church,” Hodges said. “It’s all about helping our fellow church family help members of their community.”

Team members arrived on Tuesday, Sept. 22 and served nearly 1,000 meals that day, Wade said, then served more than 700 meals on Wednesday, Sept 23 with plans to be back again serving meals on Thursday, Sept. 24.

“We had about 30 volunteers out helping on Tuesday and so far (Wednesday), we have about 40,” Wade said.

The group is entirely funded and staffed through the church in West Virginia, Wade said. The church in Loxley had plans to raise an offering to help offset the cost of the group’s visit to Alabama.

In addition to serving meals, volunteers from the church were out days after the storm helping clean up in neighborhoods in Loxley, Robertsdale, Summerdale and surrounding areas, Wade said.

The church also received a donation of more than $50,000 worth of goods from Ace Hardware to distribute to members of the community, including rakes, gloves, gas cants, bleach, water and baby wipes, among others.

“I am so proud of our church community,” Wade said. “Our motto is ‘Love, Lead, Live’ and they have certainly done that during this time. It is our responsibility as a church, not only to lift people up in prayer, but to reach out and help those in need during a time of crisis, and I am so proud that we have been able to do that during this time of need.”