Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief

06/18/2026

IBDR Volunteer Update on Charleston Callout
We still have not received final confirmation for all of our teams to go into Charleston, IL, but we will be allowed to bring assessors and two small chainsaw teams in on Friday afternoon and Saturday. We would like all other teams to be on site Monday morning. We will meet at Charleston Baptist Church and receive work assignments at that time.
- Glen Carty, Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief Interim State Director

06/18/2026

Training event August 28-29! Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief (IBDR) has more than 500 trained volunteers who serve as part of the Southern Baptist Convention's Disaster Relief ministry, the third largest relief agency in the United States. Our next training event is August 28-29 at Lake Sallateeska Baptist Camp. Learn more and register at https://www.ibsa.org/events/disaster-relief-training-lake-sallateeska/

06/18/2026

Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief has been placed on “GO” status beginning Friday, June 19, 2026, for Charleston, IL, following contact with Charleston city officials and Coles County EMA.

Here are the details we have at this time:
- Deployment is expected to begin June 19, if approved by the city.
- Housing, feeding, showers, and laundry have been secured at Charleston Baptist Church.
- Current badges are required. If your badge is not current, please email [email protected].

Further information will follow as it becomes available.

Please contact your Blue Hat if you can serve.

Emil Nattier is currently surveying the damage situation in Effingham, IL, and additional details will follow as they are received.

Thank you for your patience as we offer hope, help, and healing.
- Glen Carty, Interim State Director

06/17/2026

Thank you to all the volunteers who have helped during this latest storm season. IBDR is serving well.

06/13/2026

Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief has been moved to “GO” status and established work sites in the Streator, Washburn, and possibly the Springfield, IL areas. These sites are ready to begin work Monday (June 15) at 8 a.m. Teams will be needed at all sites. If you are able to go please contact me as soon as possible by phone, text, or email. - Glen Carty

06/12/2026

Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief has upgraded its status from "alert" to "standby." At this time, we will have one, possibly two, sites where we will be working in the Streator area. Please reach out to your Blue Hat or contact Glen Carty via text, phone, or email. It is very important that all communication go through the proper channels.

Following the direction of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, we must be asked before we can do any work. This procedure must go through me, and I am in Orlando, FL, at the National DR meeting. You may also call 217-341-2416 as a second contact number.

Thank you for your patience as we offer hope, help, and healing. - Glen Carty

05/28/2026

May 31 is Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Sunday!
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers will be honored May 31 for their dedication to offering Hope, Help, and Healing to victims of all types of disasters. SBDR volunteers serve through providing physical, emotional, and spiritual help to all. Services offered include Flood Recovery, Chainsaw, Feeding, Showers, Laundry, Chaplaincy, and Family Care. For more information, please call Janet Sheley, Illinois Baptist State Association, at 217-391-3126, or email Glen Carty at [email protected].

05/05/2026

Message from Tom Clore: There is still time to sign up for the North Carolina mission trip, focused on serving families impacted by Hurricane Helene. We will leave Sunday, May 24, and return Saturday morning, May 30.

Volunteers will help with home remodeling or new construction and will have opportunities to pray with residents, encourage them, and share the Gospel. Construction skills are helpful, but we also need chaplains and volunteers willing to minister through conversation and presence. The slots for cooking volunteers have been filled.

Technically this is not an Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief trip, so no DR training is required. Those who have yellow shirts, please do wear them, as the people there recognize the shirts.

We will stay in a remodeled facility with beds, showers, and laundry provided. It is located at 308 Harris St., Spruce Pines, NC 28777. Meals during workdays will be furnished.

Please be in prayer about going—this trip is a meaningful opportunity to serve, love others, and share Christ.

For questions, contact Tom Clore at 618-841-4010.

04/06/2026

Registration is working!!! -

This is a two-day training event. DR 101 must be completed prior to participation in specialized trainings.

04/06/2026

We are having technical difficulties. As we try to fix the registration link for DR training in Carlinville, please contact Janet Sheley to register. You can reach Janet by email at [email protected] or by phone at 217-391-3126.