Luling resident Rebecca Zirkle Matthews, a member of and secretary at New Life Community Church, said she has been blown away at the community’s response after Hurricane Ida.
“We have been housing and feeding lineman since they came to the area after the storm,” she said. “We are also allowing the community members to come in and pick up what they need from our donations supplies. Melanie Fontenot Beth Dupuy have been amazing … they really took the reins and volunteered tirelessly.”
Matthews said the church’s involvement in storm recovery started immediately after the hurricane.
“Right after the storm the Cajun Navy got in touch with us about setting up a distribution center at the church,” she said.
Church members and community volunteers have been instrumental in manning the center as well as housing and feeding linemen, Matthew said. The church, which has still been offering weekly worship services, has also had a daily dinner available for the community.
“It’s a little weird at the because the church has become a distribution center in there … it’s like, ‘Move the rice over and sit where you can,” she said laughing. “But it’s been amazing … the amount of people who have stepped up in the community, especially since all of us have damage from the storm. It’s great to see people come out and help each other.”
Matthews said the distribution center – which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – has been filled with supplies from the community, as well as other churches who have donated to the cause. She added that recovery efforts at the church, which is located at 134 Lakewood Drive in Luling, will wind down in a couple of days at the end of the month.
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