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While you were eating supper last Friday night, so were families of flood evacuees in Mexico, thanks to the supplies collected in Blanco County and delivered to the border that day.

The first truckload of food, water and diapers left the First United Methodist Church in Johnson City early Friday morning and arrived in Eagle Pass, on the border, at noon. There it was handed over to Pastor Miguel de Leon of La Iglesia Metodista de México, across the bridge in Piedras Negras.

"This food will be distributed and in the hands of hungry flood victims in time for supper tonight," Rev de Leon promised, "and when we give thanks for the meal you have brought us, we will remember the generous people of Blanco County in our prayers."

Pastor Harlene Sadler of the First United Methodist Church in Eagle Pass facilitated the handoff. She said damage on the Texas side has been bad but not as bad as on the Mexican side, and the relief resources here are many times what they are over the river.

"We work with churches back and forth across the border all the time to meet the needs of people," said Rev Sadler. "When a disaster of this magnitude happens, though, it quickly exceeds our capacity to handle it, and we have to call on our brothers and sisters across the state."

That call has resulted in an interfaith campaign to get truckloads of food and water flowing to more than 100,000 evacuees in the Mexican border cities.

"As individuals and even as small churches, we can’t have much impact on such an overwhelming need," said Rev Ken Greene, pastor of Blanco United Methodist Church.

"But when we pool our resources in a greater effort, we can move mountains, and in this case, the need is for a mountain of help."

The Johnson City church was designated as the collection point for Blanco and nearby counties. Individuals and churches who would rather pool resources than send their own collection directly can drop off supplies or checks there, with assurance it will reach those in need on the border.

Items on the needs list include:

•Bottled water

•Rice and beans in 2-lb bags

•Chicken and tuna, preferably in easy-open cans

•Corn and tomatoes, preferably in easy-open cans

•Fideo pasta

•Cereal which can be eaten without milk, such as Cheerios or Chex

•Liquid baby formula

•Diapers in any size

•New or clean and wearable clothing for infants and children

In addition to the load already taken to Piedras Negras, the churches have sent another truckload to San Antonio to be consolidated into a larger shipment to the valley, and expect a third to go to Eagle Pass by the end of this week.

The campaign continues — officially — through Sunday, the 25th, but organizers promised even late-arriving donations would be accepted.

David Hamm helped make last Friday’s delivery run from Blanco County to Eagle Pass.

"It is amazing to us, accustomed to government and non-profit agencies rushing to help with disaster response, but not every country’s citizens get that kind of help. Pastor de Leon said he has received more aid from Texas churches than from his own government," he added.

The next truck is filling now.

To donate or for more information, call JoAnn at 868-0808.