San Diegans have stepped up to the plate in a generous act of compassion for those left hungry and homeless by the devastating Hurricane Katrina.

The Caravan of Hope, a cooperative effort led by Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) of San Diego and other MCCs, joined by community and civic groups, departed Monday, Sept. 19, at 10:00 a.m. from The Center. Additionally, more than 40 members of Midtown Church of Religious Science took unpaid leave this week and traveled at their own expense to Houston, Texas, to volunteer with the Red Cross.

The Caravan of Hope has been collecting needed items for GLBT people in the Gulf Coast region affected by Hurricane Katrina, and in the last few weeks, clothing, house wares, toiletries, baby supplies and even pet food have poured into The Center. On Sunday at 12:30 p.m., congregants finished packing the items and then loaded them onto a 24-foot truck. Monday morning, five church volunteers and an accompanying motor home left The Center bound for Houston, Texas, and Baton Rouge, La., the bases of distribution for GLBT hurricane assistance in the Southeast. Along the way, they will be joined by other MCCs.

“The response from the congregation and the community has been simply overwhelming,” said Pastor Tony Freeman. “Our members and friends are even fully funding the trip. It shows people’s passion to reach out to those in need. They wanted to do something and we just had to provide the opportunity.”

More than 40 volunteers with Midtown Church cleared a week from their schedules, many taking unpaid leave from work, and prepared to pay their own way to go wherever help was needed most.

“The response was overwhelming,” said the Rev. Kevin Bucy of Midtown Church. “These folks came forth immediately, not knowing where we’d be going or what we’d be doing once we got there. There were others, unable to go due to their jobs, family obligations or health reasons, who jumped right in with financial and logistical help.”

He added, “We don’t know what work we’ll be asked to do while we’re there, but we are a team with many talents and skills and whether we’re assisting in clinics, offering crisis counseling, working in distribution lines or simply offering a hand to hold, we all feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to help these dignified people get their feet back on the ground and begin to rebuild their lives.”

While in Houston, where the Red Cross has opened four emergency shelters, the volunteers from Midtown Church will stay at a Seventh Day Adventist Church, which has a shower and kitchen facilities. The San Diegans will roll out their sleeping bags and live there for a week. The Red Cross doesn’t provide airfare or food for these volunteers, but the congregation at Midtown Church has donated enough money to cover their costs.