As flood waters ravaged parts of Butler and Carter counties earlier this month, the United Gospel Rescue Mission saw that displaced residents and volunteers had hot meals each day.
"It's amazing to me how this community in Poplar Bluff and the surrounding community comes together," explained the Rev. Greg Kirk, mission executive director. "There were a lot of pieces to the puzzle," with food preparation and delivery organized by Kirk.
After the widespread flooding began on April 30, Kirk said, right at 5,000 meals would be served during the next four days.
In addition to the 200 meals served every day at the rescue mission, "we had 136 in the shelter" at the highest point to feed three meals a day, Kirk said.
All the volunteers, he said, also were fed three meals a day, as were the sandbagging crews.
"Plus, the National Guard (soldiers) out on the line, the sandbagging crew, putting the sandbags in," Kirk said. "I drove through crazy stuff to get there" to the soldiers on the sandbagging line on County Road 607.
Kirk said his four-wheel drive vehicle had water over its tires as he worked to "get food to the people (sandbagging).
"Who would have ever thought I would have to put it in four-wheel drive to get food to people, but we did."
Kirk said the soldiers were provided hot soup (bullion), which "they appreciated it; they were going crazy over it, saying it was the best thing ever."
After the distribution center was set up in the old Doctors Regional Medical Center, "we were feeding all the people there," Kirk said.
Then, because the Van Buren High School was shut down for the flooding there and its preschool was being used as a day care for everybody working, "we took tons of food up there," Kirk said.
As the flooding continued, Kirk said, a number of restaurants and people wanted to donate.
One example, Kirk said, resulted from a call he got early on the morning of May 1.
"I didn't even know we had sandbagging crews" from the National Guard, who had been working all night, Kirk explained.
"I called the local Hardee's," said Kirk, who indicated other businesses did things too, including McDonald's, but Hardees was a "shining example."
Kirk said he called, asking for "100 of anything; I don't care what it is."
In response to being asked when the food was needed, Kirk replied "you know you may kill me when I say this ... in 25 minutes."
Kirk said he described how it was a "bad situation" with "people working out in the rain."
When Kirk asked "can you help me, Mr. Duckett, said, I would be glad to help you" and provided 100 sausage biscuits.
Kirk said he tried to pay for the sandwiches, but his offer was declined.
"Those Army guys were ready to eat cold MREs," said Kirk, who indicated when he was in the military, MREs were referred to as "meals rejected by Ethiopians."
Maybe the MREs have improved since Kirk's military career, but, he said, a "hot sausage biscuit" was a much better option.
Later, he said, lunch was needed for the soldiers, and "another place donated 100 quarter-pound cheeseburgers. "
Then, he said, it was food for volunteers.
"It was just one thing after another" when it came to keeping everyone fed, Kirk said. "It didn't start off that way; it just kind of multiplied."
According to Kirk, Francisco Esquivel, owner of Mayas and Las Margaritas, had his Doniphan, Mo., restaurant under water.
"He has got his own problems, but he still provided lunch for us," Kirk said.
As the week progressed, Kirk said, the mission began running out of staples, such as flour, sugar, milk and eggs.
"I buy my food from Mo-Ark Provision; they were under water," Kirk explained.
On Saturday, April 29, Kirk said, he had spoken with Mo-Ark's owner, Danny Osborn.
There was not water in the business at that time, but, Kirk said, Osborn was getting ready.
"If I had been thinking, I would have ordered 10 cases of chili beans" and cases of other food items to stock up, Kirk said. "I didn't think about it. Now, my food guy is under water."
Kirk said there were no other distributors who could meet his need "immediately," and the cost also would have been higher.
To fill his emptying cupboards, Kirk said, he took to the radio airwaves and within an hour food started arriving.
The postal employees union, according to Kirk, brought 100 pounds of flour, 200 pounds of sugar, milk, 15 dozen eggs, syrup and pancake mix. Others, he said, brought more supplies.
"Within one hour, I had more stuff than we could ever use," Kirk said.
The overage, he said, was taken to Van Buren.
"A lot of people want to help," Kirk said. "When you work with a trusted organization, like the United Gospel Rescue Mission, the help gets where it's needed.
"If we can't use it, we see it gets to where it's needed. We know where the needs are."
For this flood, Kirk said, he knew the greater need was in Van Buren.
Unlike in Doniphan, where the Southern Baptists had set up kitchens and showers, "I knew Van Buren didn't have the same thing" available, Kirk said.
According to Kirk, one of the "best things we did" was fulfill a request made on Saturday, May 6, from the Carter County emergency management director.
Kirk said the EMA director contacted him and told him the Carter County flood victims "didn't have anything" and were feeling dejected.
As a morale booster, Kirk said, he was asked whether there was "anyway you can get us some ice cream."
Kirk, who lives 30 miles from Poplar Bluff, between Ellsinore and Grandin, told the EMA director he would work on it, and he subsequently contacted the local owner of Baskin Robbins.
"I left my house, drove to Poplar Bluff, put the ice cream in a cooler" and then drove to Van Buren with six gallons of ice cream, Kirk said.
"The looks on their faces, it was worth every dime to take that ice cream to Van Buren," Kirk said.
Since that day, he said, he has run into a few people from Van Buren, who have thanked him for the treat.
"In a bad time, at least we did something nice," said Kirk, who described feeding everyone as "hard work (but) good work."