ATLANTA – A member of First Baptist Church in Shreveport, La., matched his church’s $5,000 donation to purchase mattresses for hurricane victims in Florida.

When the anonymous donor offered to match the church’s contribution up to $5,000, Ronney Joe Webb, the church’s minister of family life, said he "put out a plea for some money." The church raised the money, and 43 queen-size and 16 twin-size mattress sets were shipped this week to New Hope Baptist Church in Wauchula, Fla., about 40 miles south of Lakeland.

Patrick M. Mahoney, New Hope Baptist Church minister of youth, is coordinating the distribution and has received several requests from people who lost everything, he said.

Timothy Wood, the Fellowship’s volunteer missions program manager, said the donation, one of the largest single donations in that area, was a necessity for some hurricane victims. "The need for the mattresses was based on the roof damage. Peoples’ furniture and mattresses got soaked by Hurricane Charley," Wood said.

Area hurricane victims whose mattresses were severely damaged can contact Mahoney at New Hope Baptist Church at (863) 773-2101 or (863) 773-2102 to make a request. Mattresses will be given to individuals and families in the greatest need.

Fellowship hurricane relief efforts are winding down. To learn about ongoing ministry opportunities, contact Wood at twood@thefellowship.info or (800) 782-2451.

CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.