Norman — The Union Baptist Association of Norman, 1637 N. Stubbeman Ave., will host disaster relief training 9 a.m. Saturday, as part of its newly launched local chapter of the Baptist Relief Ministry.
Volunteers will learn how to prepare mass quantities of food to be divvied out locally in the event of a disaster, said Preston Collins, executive president and treasurer of the association.
While the Norman chapter has had a chain saw unit — used to cut down trees during the February ice storm for 29 homes in Purcell and Lexington that lost power — since it began a year ago, the feeding unit will make its debut Saturday.
In the event of a local disaster, Collins said the new unit should be able to produce 3,000 meals.
Collins said the worldwide ministry has provided aid for disasters such as the January earthquake in Haiti and Sept. 11 attack.
Training, which costs $5 for new volunteers and includes lunch, cap and ID badge, is open only to Southern Baptists.
Collins said there are 76 Southern Baptist churches in Cleveland and McClain counties.
Registration for the training begins at 8 a.m. at the Union Baptist Association building and will run 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch will be prepared by the feeding unit.
