Gulf Coast Hurricane Relief
at Back Bay Mission

$12,093.^51*

sent to Back Bay Mission for Hurricane Relief

In addition to prayer and advocacy for, and education about, those affected by the Gulf hurricanes of 2002

Thank you campers, counselors, deans, staff, parents and Ms. Sarah Bigney!

It was clear we wanted to help with the Gulf Coast hurricane relief effort, but how?

The Outdoor Ministries committee decided to focus on the United Church of Christ’s Back Bay Mission hit hard by Hurricane Katrina. Back Bay Mission was founded in 1922 as an outreach effort of the First Evangelical Church of Biloxi (later United Church of Christ), whose members responded with compassion and service to the needs of poor "fisher folk" living in deplorable conditions along the Back Bay of Biloxi, Mississippi. Since then, Back Bay Mission has continually grown its services and ministries, always keeping the impoverished and marginalized at the center of its concern. Although there were no longer any UCC congregations in Biloxi or in the state of Mississippi by the early 1970s, Back Bay Mission remained to offer a witness of the United Church of Christ. Its commitment is to be faithfully responsive to the emerging and critical needs of God's people, ever seeking a day of greater justice and peace.

The small staff of six full time and four part time persons provide direct services to poor families while creating new independent service agencies. Services are delivered annually to South Mississippians in such diverse areas as education, legal aid, health care, feeding programs, early childhood development, family counseling, housing, and domestic violence. We’ll be taking an offering to help the recovery effort and learn more about this historic and vital UCC mission.

Back Bay Mission has been working tirelessly   amidst the chaos to help meet the needs of the most vulnerable populations in the wake of Katrina.  Additionally, volunteers from all over the U.S. have been coming and working to help reconstruct homes for families who so desperately need a place to call home. 

P.L. Staff member Sarah Bigney spent a week in May volunteering at Back Bay Mission to learn about the organization.  She will be making the mission presentations this summer, incorporating awareness, fundraising, and advocacy into our 2006 Mission Project.

For more information visit www.backbaymission.com