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By the time you read this, the floodwaters of the Rio Grande will be down in most spots, and the long job of recovery will have begun for thousands of families evacuated from their homes.

The back-to-back tropical systems that brought needed rains to Blanco County dumped a year’s worth of rainfall along the Texas-Mexico border. The result has been near-record flooding on both sides of the river. Officials are reaching back more than 50 years to find a comparable catastrophe there.

There is a big difference between the two sides of the river, though. On the US side, warnings were issued early, most homes were built out of the floodway, and those who did flood had shelters to go to and relief agencies to help them.

On the Mexican side, though, more than 100,000 people had to evacuate as the heavy rains pounded the mountains and flowed down to the river. Shelter was harder to find...relief was scarce...and for many there would be little or nothing to go home to once the water went down. Even for those high and dry, food and water were in short supply.

The Methodist bishop of northeastern Mexico called on Texans for help, promising all food and water delivered to the border bridges would be distributed through the network of churches on the other side to make sure it reached those in real need. By Friday afternoon, one truck was in Del Rio and another was being loaded for Eagle Pass.

Blanco County is rallying to the call for help, too.

First United Methodist Church in Johnson City began a local collection for the border. The church will gather donations through Sunday, July 25, and take it to San Antonio to join food and water from other communities in the main delivery. If a truck can be filled before then, it will go directly to the border without waiting.

"When the bishop called, he already had people desperate for food and water," said Pastor Sid Spiller, "so the faster we can get more to him the more lives he will be able to save. It really is that important."

Spiller says he suspects a Higher Power may be at work, too.

"The lectionary from which many pastors draw their sermon topics scheduled the parable of The Good Samaritan for last Sunday. If the timing of that story of a man who took care of a stranger in critical need wasn’t a message for us, we are just plain deaf."

The main request is for money, which moves fastest and can be turned into whatever is in shortest supply in Mexico. For those who prefer to send goods, here’s the bishop’s wish-list:

• Bottled water

• Beans and rice in 2-lb bags

• Tuna and chicken, preferably in easy-open cans

• Corn and tomatoes, preferably in easy-open cans

• Cereal that can be eaten without milk, like Cheerios or Chex

• Fideo pasta

• Disposable diapers in any size

In addition, the State of Texas says new or used baby and children’s clothes and formula are needed on both sides of the border.

Cash and checks can be brought to the church during business hours; a collection box will accept food and water 24 hours.