20160613 Calvary Baptist ARC Shelter Entrance
Calvary Baptist Church in Cleveland, Texas. Photo credit: Elizabeth Morse

Story by Elizabeth Morse
For the eighth time in the 18 years, Calvary Baptist Church in Cleveland, Texas, has sheltered locals displaced by a disaster. For more than a week, the church lent the main floor of its Family Life Center to the American Red Cross to use as a shelter for Liberty County residents.

Pastor Carl Williamson says, “We’re here for the people. The church shouldn’t just be a place to come to on Sunday. These people are our neighbors.” The longest shelter experience for the church was after Hurricane Rita, when displaced people lived in the church for about a month.

Red Cross Shelter Manager Richard Scanlan had nothing but praise for the facility and the assistance given to the Red Cross. “Pastor Williamson has been wonderful to work with. He’s done everything we asked and he met every need.”