Two area organizations with similar missions recently came together to assist hurricane victims in the south.
The United Gospel Rescue Mission of Poplar Bluff and Hope International of Kennett, Mo., teamed up to provide and deliver donations to hurricane victims in Houston, Texas.
"We are both Christian groups," Rev. Gregory Kirk of United Gospel Rescue Mission said. "Why shouldn't we work together."
Once Hurricane Irma made landfall, many groups assisting with Hurricane Harvey in Houston had to leave.
Hope International already has taken several loads of supplies to a Christian ministry in Houston that has opened shelters for victims. Still receiving items, Hope International continues to personally transport donations.
"We help people all across the nation and down the road," Hope International Kennett store manager Kristin Stevens said.
Hope International is a disaster relief center which runs completely off donations. Assistance is offered to people in need from house fires, disasters or "hick-ups in the road," Stevens said.
According to Kirk, United Gospel Rescue Mission wanted to help hurricane victims, but did not have the resources to take the items south.
"We had extra food bank items that could go," Kirk said, so Hope International stepped in as the transportation mode.
Items sent to Houston from United Gospel Rescue Mission by way of Hope International included canned goods, concentrated juice, pasta, peanut butter, shelf milk, baby diapers and more.
"About 4,000 pounds of donations are being sent (to Houston)," Kirk said. "It's not our community, but they are still people."
According to Stevens, baby items are still much needed.
"The need is so great," she said of baby items.
Kirk added people were more than willing to donate because they knew 100 percent of their donations would go directly to the people in need.
"We are so appreciative of what United Gospel Rescue Mission is doing," Stevens said. "This is huge."
The two groups first came in contact with one another when a homeless man from Kennett was looking for help and Hope International was full. United Gospel Rescue Mission was recommended as a place for the man.
"It works out well because what's his (Kirk) main mission is ours, and vice versa," Stevens said.