By Message Staff
LAFAYETTE – Three-year-old Carter Hornsby spent an unscheduled day off from school Aug. 30 in a special way – delivering bags of pillows to First Baptist Church in Lafayette for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
He was beaming with excitement as he handed the pillows and other items to Pastor Steve Horn.
For the youngster, the pillows held a special memory. In late August 2016 the family’s Lafayette home was flooded. It was during their first night inside a temporary apartment the family realized they did not have any pillows on hand.
His mom, Monica, said the gesture of helping those impacted by Harvey was a great opportunity for Carter and his brother to experience what others did for them in their time of need.
“As we were buying supplies to help others, loading pillows into our basket was especially memorable,” she said. “To think that many don’t have the option of going to the store to get basic needs due to the flooding is heart wrenching.
“My boys do not understand the impact of this tragedy, but they do understand the generosity of people and the church meeting needs because of what others did for us and what we are now having the opportunity to do,” she continued.
“We prayed over the supplies we bought and the people it would help and specifically over the heads those pillows would touch,” she said. “It is our prayer they will know an overwhelming sense of peace and feel the love.”
The pillows are among many items First Baptist Lafayette is collecting for people staying at evacuation shelters in Louisiana and Texas. Other items he church is collecting are:
Blankets (new)
Air mattresses (new)
Basic toiletries
Toilet paper
Basic medical supplies
Styrofoam cups
Napkins
Gatorade
Paper towels
Paper plates
Plastic forks, knives and spoons
Medium duty type gloves
Band-Aids
Neosporin
Laundry detergent
Hand wipes
Sandwich sized Ziploc bags
Paper bags
Hand soap
Items can be dropped off at the church 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1 and Saturday, Sept. 2 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The donations will then be loaded onto an 18 wheeler for delivery.
