About a six-hour drive southeast of here lies what is now the most populous city in Louisiana--Baton Rouge. My friend, Kelley, is from there, and a church in her town approached her to ask if our church (and any others we can get to help) would partner with them to care for more than seven hundred evacuees. They were looking for sister churches to send basic supplies, so Kelley forwarded their request to our congregation's email list.

Two of our members walked the 'hood surrounding our church, inviting each family to give a few items for the relief effort. They collected five garbage bags full of toilet paper, shampoo, and clothing thanks to the generosity of our neighbors.

Below is a list of items requested:

· MOST NEEDED: Similac Advanced ready-to-use single-serving liquid formula
· New underwear, bras, panties for all sizes and ages
· New socks

The Baton Rouge group specifically asked for new, unopened undergarments. "People can change their clothes," they said, but who can blame them for wanting unused undergarments? The group asked us to sort all clothing donations into three categories: Men’s clothing, Women's clothing, and Baby/Children’s clothing, then place them in bags or boxes, and label them as such.

. When it came to toiletries, items especially needed included toothpaste, toothbrushes, powder, deodorant, antibacterial hand cleaner, feminine products, small packs of Kleenex, and other trial- size necessities.

. Needed baby items included diapers, wipes, baby powder, and diaper rash ointment. They also asked for bedding in any size and cots. They said they were also constructing showers for the evacueees, and asked for shampoo, soap, towels, and washcloths--items the Red Cross does not provide.

I forwarded this list to my brother-in-law, Bob, a missions pastor outside of Washington, D.C. His church immediately started collecting the items on that list and are sending them down today.

Bob called yesterday from Baton Rouge, where he had just arrived with a sleeping bag to handle the advance work before the team arrives. (He said the place looked like a war zone, with Red Cross helicopters perched all over the tarmac.) Each team member is taking one suitcase with personal items, and an additional suitcase of the underwear, formula, and toiletries that my sister-in-law's Bible study group packed last night. The team has to handle their own transportation and meals, so they are flying to a nearby city, renting a van, and driving into Baton Rouge. They plan to sleep on the floor of a church there. I have no idea how they'll feed themselves, but I suspect they won't go hungry.

I wonder how many people will get the formula or antibacterial handcleaner or garments they need thanks to Kelley's taking the time to email a list of specific needs. Jesus spoke of giving a cup of water in His name, and I suspect underwear counts, too.

I spoke recently with a medical doctor who is a top military advisor to the U.S. government on bioterrorism. It is his firm conviction that in the event of a national emergency, it will fall to churches to meet individual needs. He feels we should prepare now. Clearly we must not put all of our eggs in the FEMA and Homeland Security baskets. Does your family and/or church have an emergency response plan? Here's a place to start.