SAN ANTONIO — As the war in Israel and Gaza escalates, volunteers with Texas Baptist Men are providing relief to those impacted.
San Antonio’s Gary Finley found purpose in retirement 11 years ago when he joined TBM, disaster relief organization that’s taken him across the nation the around the world.
“When I retired, I was kind of searching what to do and my wife says you’re going to have to figure out something,” Finley said.
When war broke out over the weekend, Finley knew it was time to pack a bag alongside 19 other TBM volunteers. At the beginning of Russia's war on Ukraine, Finley helped refugees in Poland. He's also aided displaced residents in the U.S. following natural disasters.
“The mission of Texas Baptist Men is to provide help, hope and healing to a hurting world or a hurting community,” Finley said.
The TBM crew arrived in Israel Tuesday morning and got to work, whipping up all kinds of dishes and serving food to thousands impacted by the war.
“Hotdogs. Today we got 2,000 falafel sandwiches going out,” Finley said. “It doesn’t matter whether they’re Israeli, Palestinian or whatever, if a person’s in need of food then that’s what we’re going to do, we’re going to feed them. We’re just here for them.”
The TBM volunteers plan to be on the ground in Israel for at least the next couple weeks. Right now, they’re operating out of a secure location in Jerusalem.
“If it escalates, we will be moving into the areas where the evacuees and the people displaced by the war will be and be serving them, cooking directly for them.”
Texas Baptist Men serves as the third-largest disaster relief network in the U.S. To learn more go here.