Bethany’s shelter of hope

BAKER – There’s a building on Plank Road where at least 200 mattresses lie on the floor and are covered with sheets adorned with floral patterns. There are infants sleeping soundly while their mothers sit next to them folding clothes or sweeping around their few possessions.
Older children run around the building, throwing footballs or playing board games, while “The Lion King” plays on the television and entertains others. Laughter can be heard from elderly women and men sitting in a corner as they reminisce about the good old days.
This setting is neither a campsite nor someone’s home; it is a shelter at Bethany World Prayer Center in Baker for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Bethany, a non-denominational church pastored by Larry Stockstill, opened its doors to 200 evacuees on the eve of Aug. 28, the night before Katrina made landfall on southeastern Louisiana. After their arrival, the church fed evacuees three meals a day and provided them with boarding at the church’s “Center of Hope”. Though the shelter is independent of any Red Cross or federal aid, it is totally self-sufficient.
Norman Chatman, a native of New Orleans spent six days at the shelter before he and his family relocated to San Diego.
“Bethany has helped me and my family so much,” Chatman said. “My wife wanted to go to San Diego and Bethany was able to do it for us.
“When we got here, they had us fill out all types of applications – we signed up for food stamps and unemployment,” he said. “Bethany has done more for us than FEMA promised.”
Tony Foster, an assistant pastor at Bethany, runs the day-to-day operations at the shelter.
“We will stay open as long a necessary,” Foster said, as he waved bye to the Chatman family. “Donations are coming in from all over the state; semi-trucks come to the church all day long, delivering goods for the people here.”
Foster said the shelter, which is run by volunteers, is always in need of an extra pair of hands. He said people wishing to help should come by the Baker campus at 13855 Plank Road, or call (225) 774-1700. He said help is needed around the clock.
“There are 14 to 15 stations that need volunteers,” Foster said. “We need someone to sort through clothing, someone to cook …We need all the help we can get.”
Armed police officers constantly patrol the facility, giving off an air of security that some of the evacuees have not felt in days. Meanwhile, Foster and other pastors offer counseling and ministering for the survivors.
Patricia Albarez and her immediate family learned about Bethany’s shelter while driving away from New Orleans.
“I never thought something like this would happen to us,” Albarez said while her daughter sat at her feet. “Bethany has been so good to us these past five days. I just hope one day we are able to return to New Orleans.”
Local resident Penny Perkins and her family have been volunteering since Wednesday. Despite the damage Katrina has done to their home, the Perkins’ still find time to count their blessings and help those less fortunate.
“I man the station that oversees the disbursement for toys, clothing for children, feminine hygiene products and items for babies,” Perkins said as tears streamed down her face. “We are members of this church. My children go to school here. We felt the need to be here and help these people out.”
The Perkins family has spent an average of 10 to 12 hours of volunteering at Bethany. They then return to their home, which still has no electricity, thanks to Katrina.
“This entire week has been so overwhelming,” Perkins said. “I mean this could have been my family lying on the floor. Today a lady came in with no shoes and I gave her mine. I cannot image how I could handle a devastating blow like this.”
Bethany’s shelter can rival any store. Trucks come in every hour delivering food, clothing, and other goods, while diapers in all sizes are stocked next to baby formulas.
There are so many toys lying around, picking them up would seem futile. Dolls in all hues lie on the shelves, waiting for little girls to pick up and play with them.
Foster’s wife, Margaret Foster, a registered nurse and former Southern University student helps with the impressive medical services Bethany provides.
“We have a clinic that provides limited medical services for those that need it,” she said while watching the sea of evacuees. “Some of the people here need their prescriptions filled.
“There are all types of social classes in this room. There are attorneys, teachers, businessmen …,” she said. “… A man came in the other day who worked for NASA. Disaster strikes everyone without care.”