INDIANAPOLIS — Hurricane Helene tore a deadly path through the Appalachians and the East Street Apostolic Church congregation felt compelled to make a special delivery in this time of need.
WRTV The church in Indianapolis’ Bates-Hendricks neighborhood collected donations for hurricane victims in Tennessee and North Carolina throughout the week. The congregation loaded a box truck with their supplies Friday afternoon and started driving to Statesville, North Carolina later that night.
“This the largest truck you can get without a CDL, I’ll put it that way,” said East Street Apostolic Church pastor Daniel Parnell. “Still, I feel like what we’ve done is just a small drop in the bucket compared to what really is needed.”
WRTV Parnell said the church raised more than $5,000 to buy supplies in addition to the donated goods it received.
“As I started filling the truck, it looked like I was going to have to be careful how I packed it or it may not all fit,” Parnell said.
“It feels miraculous, like I witnessed a miracle,” added East Street Apostolic Church reverend Juliana Schad. “It’s astounding. Not surprising, but astounding and incredible.”