AUSTIN, TX — Samaritan’s Purse is helping homeowners in Austin, Texas, clean up after severe winter weather damaged their properties. But more volunteers are urgently needed to help with the work and share the love of Jesus with those adversely affected by the storms.

Richard Talbot, Volunteer:

We had single-digit temperature, a lot of freezing rain and snow.

Mike Peays, Homeowner:

We were without power here for over seven days.

Todd Taylor, Samaritan’s Purse:

This has been the hardest winter Texas has seen in a very long time. The whole state was inundated with snow and ice.

Michelle Anderson, Homeowner:

I saw it coming with the forecast, but I never knew I could be that cold inside.

David Hodges, Volunteer:

It was challenging. There are a lot of people who are suffering. It hit Austin really, really hard.

Larry Hart, Volunteer:

It’s just a sense of shock and dismay has been the sense, and people are looking for hope. And as we all know, the only hope that can be found is truly in Jesus Christ. That’s why we’re here sharing the love of Jesus.

Todd Taylor:

Samaritan’s Purse is set up here in Austin. And we’re at Grace Covenant Church, and this is a church that’s been partnering with the ministry for years. As we called them and said, “Hey, we’d like to come help,” they opened their facility wide for us.

Richard Talbot:

Today, we’re working on assessments, try to understand a little bit more about the nature of the damage and the type of skills and equipment that we would need to come be of some value, and then line up the work for the work crews that would be coming.

Michelle Anderson:

My biggest damage was right here, this whole side of the house being filled with limbs. And I think what struck me was, how do I even start? Where do I start? That’s when I heard about your organization on the local news. And when I saw it, I wrote it down right away, and I thought maybe– maybe.

The amount of people that came, I just couldn’t believe that people were still getting out of cars and cars and cars and coming prepared with all the tools and everything and getting up and cutting the dangerous limbs. It’s made this place safer, but I’m still astounded at how quick and everybody working together. Here we are. Y’all are finished. I’m so excited.

Denise Harting, Volunteer:

We are the hands and feet of Jesus. And in a very practical way, we can let people know that He’s thinking about them, and He loves them, and He sees them in the situation that they’re in.

Carlo Boccia, Volunteer:

I have volunteered in the past, and it’s an emotional process for people. So when you come into their homes and you’re demoing their homes or pulling their trees and taking things away that they have a connection to, it’s nice to have somebody just give them some hope and encourage them and let them know that something will rise out of a disaster. And first and foremost is the volunteerism. When you see somebody show up in orange, it’s the best thing.

Todd Taylor:

We need volunteers. We’ve got great opportunities both here in Austin as well as Houston, and we need volunteers. We need our local church people to be ready to go out in Jesus’ Name to be able to serve their communities.

Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. The organization serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Samaritan’s Purse International Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) program is committed to meeting the critical needs of victims of war, poverty, famine, disease, and natural disaster. We stand ready to respond at a moment’s notice whenever and wherever disaster strikes. The DART specializes in providing water, food, shelter, and medical care while sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

CONTACT: Kaitlyn Lahm, news@samaritan.org

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