23 TRUCKS OF FOOD AND RECOVERY SUPPLIES TO BENEFIT LOCAL FAMILIES
On Tuesday, May 18th, the NBA Players Association (NBPA) and Feed The Children delivered two trucks of food and recovery supplies to families at the More Than Conquerors Faith Church (MTCFC) in Birmingham. These trucks were two of 23 that the NBPA and Feed The Children are sending to storm-swept communities across Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia this week.
Led by LA Lakers center, NBPA Vice President and Alabama native Theo Ratliff, and NBA Legend Purvis Short, the NBPA, Feed the Children, and volunteers from the Birmingham Chapter of the American Red Cross and MTCFC distributed supplies to over 200 families at the church this afternoon.
“The NBPA is committed to delivering aid to our brothers and sisters who need it most,” said Billy Hunter, Executive Director of the NBPA. “Through our Operation Rebound program we will continue to support relief efforts across the country and work with our incredible community partners to help in any way we can.”
“It means the world for me to be able to come back home to Alabama and give back to those who have been affected by this disaster,” said Theo Ratliff, LA Lakers center and NBPA Vice President. “Now more than ever, we need to stand together and lend a hand to those who desperately need it. The devastation here is heart-breaking, but I know first-hand how resilient our communities can be. I have no doubt we will rebuild and recover.”
“Just as we did after Hurricane Katrina, we are honored to help with recovery efforts in the South, and humbled by the amazing show of strength we’ve seen in these communities,” said Purvis Short, NBA Legend and current NBPA Director of Player Programs. “We’re grateful to our partners in the local community for making this possible, and look forward to working with them in the future.”
“This overwhelming effort by the NBPA and its members has allowed Feed The Children to expand the disaster relief effort to additional cities that have been affected by nature's fury," said Tony Sellars, spokesperson for Feed The Children. "We will continue to provide help and hope to those trying to rebound from tragedy, and it is gratifying to know that great partners like the NBPA will be with us every step of the way."
“As a Pastor for nearly thirty years in the Birmingham area, I have had numerous opportunities to spearhead and partner with efforts to bring about change in people’s lives. However, the opportunity I have been afforded to work with Operation Rebound and the NBA Players Association is by far one of the most sentimental and personally rewarding for me,” said Pastor Steve Green of MTCFC. “Having grown up in Pratt City, about one week before the devastating tornado, I found myself praying in my old neighborhood for help and revitalization. Now, as I see that help pouring in from across the globe and through the NBA Players Association, it is certainly an answer to prayer.”
“The City of Birmingham is in recover and rebuild mode after the storm’s devastation and the NBPA’s ‘Operation Rebound’ will be a part of that effort as we strive to build a better Birmingham,” said Mayor William A. Bell, Sr. “We thank them for their time and support and for just simply giving of themselves to show that they care about the people of Birmingham.”
This aid is part of the NBPA’s “Operation Rebound,” which was launched in 2005, in response to the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. Operation Rebound is a long-term commitment and partnership between the Players Association, Feed The Children and other humanitarian groups to provide disaster relief and ultimately to provide assistance in the rebuilding efforts of local communities. Sending aid and writing checks are only the beginning of the NBPA's efforts. The players’ insistence on a hands-on approach has taken them to numerous, hard-hit areas. Hundreds of union members have volunteered to travel and deliver supplies to those who need them most.
In addition to the NBPA and Theo Ratliff, Chris Bosh, Ben Wallace, D.J. White, Antonio McDyess, Josh Childress, and the WNBPA Foundation are sponsoring some of the of the 23 trucks being donated. A full schedule of the NBPA’s trucks is included below:
| Location | Date | Drop location |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 18-May | The Salvation Army |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 18-May | The Salvation Army |
| Anniston, AL | 18-May | The Salvation Army |
| Tuscumbia, AL | 18-May | The Salvation Army |
| Pisgah, AL | 18-May | The Salvation Army |
| Gunterville, AL | 19-May | The Salvation Army |
| Decatur, AL | 19-May | The Salvation Army |
| Birmingham, AL | 17-May | More Than Conquerors Church |
| Birmingham, AL | 17-May | More Than Conquerors Church |
| Demopolis, AL | 17-May | Theo Ratliff Activity Center |
| Choctaw / Clark Counties, AL | 20-May | Location TBD |
| Sumpter / Pickens Counties, AL | 20-May | Location TBD |
| Green / Hale Counties, AL | 20-May | Location TBD |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 18-May | The Salvation Army |
| Memphis, TN | 16-May | The Salvation Army |
| Memphis, TN | 16-May | The Salvation Army |
| Memphis, TN | 16-May | The Salvation Army |
| Memphis, TN | 16-May | The Salvation Army |
| Memphis, TN | 16-May | The Salvation Army |
| Memphis, TN | 16-May | The Salvation Army |
| Jackson, MS | 20-May | The Salvation Army |
| Chattanooga, TN | 16-May | The Salvation Army |
| McDonough, GA | 20-May | The Salvation Army |
ABOUT THE NBPA
The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) is the union for current professional basketball players in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Established in 1954, the NBPA mission is to ensure that the rights of NBA players are protected and that every conceivable measure is taken to assist players in maximizing their opportunities and achieving their goals, both on and off the court. For more information, please visit www.nbpa.org.
ABOUT FEED THE CHILDREN
Founded in 1979, Feed The Children is consistently ranked as one of the 10 largest international charities in the U.S., based on private, non-government support. Feed The Children is a Christian, international, nonprofit relief organization with headquarters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that delivers food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to individuals, children and families who lack these essentials due to famine, war, poverty or natural disasters. In FY 2010, Feed The Children distributed more than 133 million pounds of food and other essentials to children and their families in all 50 states and internationally. For more information, please visit www.feedthechildren.org.
ABOUT MTCFC
For nearly thirty years More Than Conquerors Faith Church has held a forceful presence in the Birmingham area, impacting thousands of lives with a message of hope, healing, and love through the power of God. It is the firm belief of More Than Conquerors’ pastoral leadership and congregation that the local church holds a vital role in the welfare and support of the community. It is to that end, More Than Conquerors initiates and pursues opportunities to collaborate with other community partners in innovative outreaches to assist in the maintenance and edification of our society and local community. For more information visit www.mtcfc.org.
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