KBC, WMU to Collect Care Kits for Afflicted Africans 04/25/2008 LOUISVILLE – In response to growing numbers of Africans afflicted with the HIV virus and AIDS, the Kentucky Baptist Convention and Kentucky’s Woman’s Missionary Union are organizing a statewide collection of healthcare items as part of a relief effort. Running from May 11-June 15, the project’s goal is to supply Southern Baptist Convention’s international missionaries with essential healthcare items that will be distributed to caregivers and disease victims in Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. “This is a way for us to respond to a critical need in Africa by helping to stop the spread of the disease to caregivers,” said Coy Webb, KBC disaster relief associate. “It also gives our missionaries the opportunity to share the gospel and give hope to the hopeless.” The KBC’s Baptist Men on Mission Department and Woman’s Missionary Union are coordinating the statewide effort in conjunction with Baptist Global Response, the Southern Baptist Convention’s international disaster relief organization. “We know that Kentucky Baptists really like hands-on mission projects, and this is an opportunity to literally pack the bucket and send it,” said Joy Bolton, Kentucky WMU director. “It’s especially effective when we know our IMB missionaries will be the ones distributing the goods to those in need.” Individuals and churches can participate in the effort by purchasing items from a detailed list of household health products, including soaps, vitamins, healing ointments, creams and more. Items should be collected through participating Kentucky Baptist churches from May 11-June 15. “These buckets could certainly be put together by individuals or families, but we foresee the majority being put together by groups, such as Sunday school classes, women’s or men’s groups, Royal Ambassadors or Girls in Action groups as a mission project,” said Webb. Churches will then pack the supplies in five gallon buckets and transport the buckets at one of 16 drop-off locations across the state between June 16-19. The locations are as follows: Bowling Green: Warren Association Office, 6448 Scottsville Road Elizabethtown: Severns Valley Association Office, 500 College Street Road Hardin: Blood River Association Office, 47 Aurora Hwy Lexington: Elkhorn Association Office, 1161 Red Mile London: First Baptist Church, London, 804 W. 5th Street Louisville: First Baptist Church, Highland Park, 7321 Billtown Road Madisonville: Little Bethel Association Office, 445 Thompson Avenue Mayfield: First Baptist Church, Mayfield, 118 W. South Street Morehead: First Baptist Church, Morehead, 123 E. Main Street Owensboro: Daviess-Mclean Association Office, 1003 Scherm Road Pikeville: Pike Association Office, 79 Ratliff Street Pineville: First Baptist Church, Pineville, 405 Kentucky Avenue Princeton: First Baptist Church, Princeton, 300 W. Main Street Somerset: Pulaski Association Office, 116 Mill Street Stanford: Lincoln Association Office, 4160 Hwy 27 South Wiliamstown: Crittenden Association Office, 305 N. Main Street KBC disaster relief trucks will pick up the buckets from the specified locations beginning June 20 and will deliver them to the SBC’s International Mission Board in Virginia. More information and a complete list of needed items is available at www.kybaptist.org/africaprojects or by contacting the KBC’s Baptist Men on Mission Department at 502-489-3527 or 866-489-3527 (toll free in KY). The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of more than 2,400 autonomous Baptist churches in Kentucky. A variety of state and worldwide ministries are coordinated through its administrative headquarters in Louisville, Ky. including: missions work, disaster relief, ministry training and support, church development, evangelism and more. Release prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC Communications