Oklahoma's Southern Baptists gearing up to help in Iraq relief efforts

Members of Oklahoma's Southern Baptist Disaster Relief team have been notified they'll be one of the lead teams going to Iraq. <br><br>Of course, the job won't begin until all of Iraq is secured.

Thursday, April 10th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Members of Oklahoma's Southern Baptist Disaster Relief team have been notified they'll be one of the lead teams going to Iraq.

Of course, the job won't begin until all of Iraq is secured. News on Six reporter Heather Johnson explains what they'll be doing and how you can help.

Dick Blodgett, Relief Team Member: "We're actually reaching out and touching people and making a little bit of difference." Now that the military mission in Iraq appears to be a success, churchgoers across Oklahoma are gearing up for a mission of their own. Jan Acree, Church Member: "We're sitting here and watching TV with our hands in our laps and we're doing a lot of praying and we know that's being answered too, but it's nice to be able to be actively involved.â€

Members of the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Team will be headed overseas to bring much needed supplies to Iraqi families in need. Dick Blodget, who's been on several relief trips, knows first-hand how it feels to look hunger in the face and be able to do something about it. "I fed people that hadn't eaten in five days we took about 80,000 pounds of food into this village we had and I talked to people that had lost their whole families."

Organizers are asking volunteers to put together a box of basic staples. To show how easy it is, we headed to the grocery store. Four 5-pound bags of rice, some flour, sugar, tea and more. It all adds up to around $55. Start by lining the box with a large plastic trash bag to protect the contents. There are very specific directions on packing the items in the box so that everything will fit and be easily shipped at just under 70 pounds the food you see here will feed a family of 5 for an entire month.

"I definitely think it will have a positive impact on the people in Iraq and that's what we wanna do, that's what we're there for."