Baylor group takes time before school to help flood victims

WACO—A new semester is on the horizon for college students, faculty and staff across the country, but a group from Baylor University wanted to do something tangible to help others in need before classes start.

Mark Magers, a Baylor University alum, serves with BearAid in San Angelo under the leadership of Texans on Mission. (Photo / Chad Warner / Baylor University)

Four students, 17 faculty and staff members, and one alumnus from Baylor spent a day alongside Texans on Mission volunteers rebuilding homes in flood-devastated San Angelo.

“We care deeply about being able to serve when we can and to help our neighbors in need, and there certainly has been lots of that as a result of the July Fourth storms,” said Molly Simpson, assistant director for service at Baylor and a member of the San Angelo team.

Baylor’s disaster relief group is called BearAid, and they worked in two houses cutting and hanging sheetrock and insulation after being quickly taught what to do by Texans on Mission volunteers.

“They gave us some training at each site and we got to work,” Simpson said.

‘Baylor answered the call to serve’

Sabrina Pinales, director of missions and discipleship with Texans on Mission, worked alongside the BearAid team.

“We are so thankful that Baylor answered the call to serve with Texans on Mission,” she said.

Baylor University student Alyssa Carrol serves with BearAid in San Angelo under the leadership of Texans on Mission. (Photo / Chad Warner / Baylor University)

“Volunteers are essential in rebuilding a community after a disaster,” and the Baylor group has been “a tremendous blessing to families impacted by the recent flooding,” Pinales said.

Sarah Walker, senior coordinator for service at Baylor, said BearAid had already “started to explore what it would look like to partner with Texans on Mission to do some work together this fall” and realized there was “a short window of time before our semester begins that we could take some faculty and staff” to San Angelo.

“We hope this can lead to more opportunities for cooperation … in the upcoming semester and beyond,” Walker said. “We have a really solid group of students who care a lot about other people and want to serve others.

“I’ve been working with the BearAid leadership team to talk through what that could look like to do some future trips with Texans on Mission this fall, such as day trips or weekend trips.”