Bainbridge is a small town neatly nestled in the southwestern corner of the state of Georgia just over the Alabama and Florida state lines. It was first settled as a small trading post in the late 18th century. Residents are rightly proud of their little corner of Georgia, and will quickly remind you it\u2019s the hometown of Georgia Bulldog Head Coach Kirby Smart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Life is fairly laid back in Bainbridge. But, that all changed when Michael arrived hurling winds of 120 miles per hour down against the quite little town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBainbridge was never seen anything like this before,\u201d said Maria Diaz, a resident since 1999. \u201cThe last time anything close to this happened here was back in 1851.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bearing testimony to Maria\u2019s statement, countless 100-year-old-plus live oak trees, that once graced the town, are now strewn across streets and lawns, and lay toppled over homes and businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many of the largest and most beautiful trees in Bainbridge are now either gone or severely disfigured. Waves and swaths of live oak leaves stripped from their branches by hurricane-force winds still swirl in the narrower back streets, like dark green glitter tinged with a smattering of road dust. Unripen acorns wretched from parental trees easily crunch underfoot at every step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few miles south of town, and a stone\u2019s throw from Tallahassee Highway, almost 100 men, women and children huddled together inside the United Methodist Hispanic Hispanic Mission seeking shelter from the rages of Hurricane Michael, not knowing the fate of their clustered trailer-homes just over the tree line. Their fear grew in intensity as the raging storm winds increased and pressed trees down to their breaking point. At the height of the storm, the little group of gathered families huddled together in prayer for thirty minutes in the center of the chapel. At midnight, the power went out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Local congregation leader, Jamie Gallaga, earlier pleaded with the little Hispanic community to shelter in the church from the storm. Much to Mr. Gallaga\u2019s relief, they listened. Gallaga grew up on the Mexican Gulf Coast and shared his frightening personal experiences of what hurricane force winds could do. Although Gallaga is not an ordained pastor, its not important to the little Hispanic community. He took up care for the little Hispanic flock when the pastor assigned to the church was delayed by governmental red tape over a year ago, and they won\u2019t forget his unfailing love and dedication to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m glad they listened,\u201d says Gallaga with tears in his eyes, \u201cI can\u2019t image what I would do if anything happened to one of these little ones,\u201d he adds, as children run laughing, playing and chasing each other around the inside of the chapel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The women and children stay at the Hispanic Mission Church during the day while the men go back to their devastated neighborhood to do what repairs they can. One man lost his trailer-home where he and his five children were living. He lost his wife a few years ago, and now must maintain his strength for his family to make it through yet another tragedy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gallaga\u2019s step-son\u2019s house is destroyed \u2014 crushed under numerous fallen trees. And two trees crashed through Gallaga\u2019s home, too. \u201cI\u2019m not going to worry about my home or going back to work until the congregation is taken care of and none of them need to stay here anymore,\u201d says Gallaga resolutely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just then, one of the best mobile kitchen units in The Salvation Army Georgia Division 21-canteen fleet from Elberton, GA, slowly navigates the turn into the driveway of the church\u2014within a short time it is set up and ready to serve lunch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Behind the serving window is 2016 Salvation Army Southern Territory Volunteer of the Year, Joe Johnson, now approaching 30 years of volunteer service. \u201cI love doing this,\u201d Johnson says, as a gaggle of pre-teen girls skip up to the canteen followed closely by their moms and younger siblings. \u201cHot dogs!\u201d they exclaim excitedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have words to express how much it means for you to help us like this,\u201d says Gallaga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what we do \u2013 helping people in their time of need,\u201d says Johnson. \u201cWe\u2019re with you, and we won\u2019t leave Bainbridge, or the little Hispanic Mission, either, until all in need are served and safe.\u201d<\/p>\n