ADEL, GA (WTXL) -- The road to recovery isn't just cleaning up debris. For many families, they've lost everything -- and the community has responded in a big way, pouring in donations at local churches.
"The Bible says, 'Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning,' and we've had a bad night in Adel," said Ashley Way, pastor of Adel Church of God.
Seven people were killed in a mobile home park not far from the church. Way said local churches were filled Sunday morning, as communities came together.
"This is the day that the Lord has made, and we are rejoicing today that we did make it," Way said.
"Our house was spared. We were right in the midst of it, right on the edge of the storm," said member Corkey Taylor. "Five of my neighbors' houses are not there anymore."
To help families rebuild, the church has become a warehouse -- with items from all across Florida and Georgia.
"We're just blessed," Way said. "Truckloads. We probably have 900 bags of clothes we haven't gone through yet."
"We have canned goods. We have perishable items. We have everything to fill a cabinet," said member Sherry Callaghan, who oversees the food donation inventory.
Several rooms in the church's buildings are packed with donations, meeting different needs in the community. Way said the church is working with other groups to help meet an even greater need.
"We've got seven apartments rented -- trailers, and we're going to fill them up with furniture," Way said. "We're going to fill them up with food. We're going to pay the rent for three months."
"The Lord loves them," Callaghan said. "He's going to give back everything and then abundantly above -- more than they've ever seen."
"Everything they had that were gone, we're going to try to restore it," Way said.
"Adel will absolutely rebuild," Taylor said.
The church plans to start giving out the rented trailers Monday, working with community groups to see where the greatest need is.
Way said furniture donations are being preferred currently, since most other needs have already been met.
