Times-Journal Writer

Congressman Artur Davis, D-Birmingham, forged a partnership with two Jefferson County Christian missions in order to bring large truckloads of food, supplies and clothing to the needy of Dallas County over the past two weeks.

The Christian Service Mission and the Oak Mountain Mission, both of Jefferson County, worked with Davis to expand their Good Benevolence Program outreach services into the entire Seventh Congressional District.

The Christian Service Mission arrived in Selma on Aug. 21 with enough food to serve 400 families in the area.

Selma Mayor James Perkins was among the many volunteers at Tabernacle of Praise Church who helped to unload the crates of food donated by vendors, grocery stores and bakeries.

“This outreach project was well orchestrated by Congressman Davis and his staff,” Perkins said. “The very valuable resources that were shared with Dallas County are appreciated by our citizens.”

The week following the Christian Service Mission visit, those from the Oak Mountain Mission came to Dallas County bearing toys, clothing, and a number of household items.

The two missions served families represented by numerous churches and other local missions, including Faith Tabernacle, Bosco Nutrition Center, Selma Christian Ministries, Christian Outreach Alliance, Freedom Baptist Church, Salvation Army, Orrville Baptist Church, Orrville United Methodist Church, Marion Junction United Methodist Church, Center Chapel United Methodist Church in Safford and the Tabernacle of Praise.

After the partnership between Davis and the two missions was established in January, the missions and area churches throughout the Black Belt have collaborated each month to provide families with food and other supplies.

The Selma visit marked the missions’ seventh visit to a Black Belt county, with many more trips planned.

One of the past visits included a stop in Uniontown, where the missions served the needs of around 250 families.

The Christian Service Mission is a nonprofit Christian organization that has operated in the Southeast for more than 30 years. The Mission provides disaster relief, food assistance, and clothing and furniture vouchers to families in need to transition.

The Oak Mountain Mission supplies clothing, toys, bikes, games, books, baby items and household items to families in need.

According to Davis representative Samika Peterson, the Good Samaritan Benevolence Program had once supported missions to the Black Belt, but was stopped several years ago due to funding cuts and budget shortfalls.

Davis decided to work to find a way to restore the program to Dallas County and the entire Black Belt.