GENESIS SHIPS GOODWILL COAST-TO-COAST

Just over six years ago, a man named Phil Bridwell showed up unannounced at Genesis Trucking.

Kermit "Moose" Meystedt, who owns Genesis with his wife, Sandy, said his life hasn't been the same since.

"He came into my office and said he saw our name on a tractor-trailer as it was going down the highway, and he knew he was at the right place," said Meystedt.

Bridwell collected clothing for Homeless Inc. in Anna, Ill., and he asked Meystedt if he would truck that clothing to the needy.

Since that time, Genesis Trucking has delivered more than 50 truckloads of clothing coast-to-coast to the homeless and needy. Each truckload contains about 30,000 pounds of clothing collected in Southern Illinois, Southeast Missouri and Western Kentucky.

Bridwell died two years ago, but Marion Mosley of Jonesboro, Ill., is helping to carry on Bridwell's mission. Mosley said Meystedt and his trucking company have been heaven-sent.

"I think he's a super, jam-up good guy," said Mosley. "He hauls all our clothing for nothing. We couldn't hardly operate without Moose."

Between the gaps of delivering clothing, Meystedt has sent truckloads of clothing and emergency supplies to disaster victims across the country.

He collected and trucked supplies to victims of Hurricane Andrew in Florida in 1992, to Georgians devastated by flooding in 1994, and to Third World countries in 1994 via the Lutheran World Relief in St. Louis.

The list goes on and on.

He never charges for either the truck or driver's time.

"We just do it, and somehow God takes care of the expenses and our bottom line," Meystedt said.

Meystedt also spearheaded the effort to raise $75,000 to install a new wooden gymnasium floor at Cape Girardeau Central High School in 1993.

"Shortly before Phil arrived, my wife and I were talking about our business," he said. "We know it was a gift from God, and we wondered what we should be doing other than delivering freight."

After Genesis began delivering clothing, Meystedt said he has seen one miracle after another at the company. "I can hardly say it without my heart swelling up," he said.

No matter how busy the business is, there always seems to be an extra trailer for the clothing runs.

Genesis employs some 30 people and operates 20 to 25 trucks. Its three biggest customers are Spartech Plastic, Biokyowa and Golden Cat.

Genesis also serves as a collection point for new and used clothing and will even pick up donations. All people have to do is call Genesis at 335-2275.

Some of the most moving experiences have been trips to the Sioux Indian Reservation outside Wounded Knee, S.D. One driver is even looking into the possibility of adopting an orphaned boy on the reservation.

"Every driver who delivers clothing has found his life changed without fail," Meystedt said.