Days after a tornado damaged close to 500 homes, large groups of volunteers are bringing a helping hand to neighbors in need.
The tornado touched down in Oak Grove around 8:15 p.m. on Monday and leveled neighborhoods around the city.
Following the devastation, volunteers have helped with a multitude of tasks; from clearing debris and cleaning yards to helping families gathers items they need.
Chris Sanders, whose home was damaged on Monday night, has been both a recipient of the community’s help this week and a volunteer.
After getting assistance clearing rubble around his house, he wanted to give back.
"It feels good to pay it forward," he explained. "It's humbling to be on the receiving end."
On Thursday, Sanders was one of a number of volunteers helping at New Life Church.
Donations have continued to come in from around the country and now fill multiple rooms at the church.
By helping out, Sanders wanted to teach a lesson to his children.
"Setting an example for my boys to not boo-hoo about it and deal with it and move on," he said. "There's a lot of families that are in a lot worse shape than mine. I'll do what I can for them."
Sanders showed 41 Action News the damage at his home on Thursday evening.
Like many others around Oak Grove, Sanders said this week has brought many different emotions following the destructive storm.
He said he was grateful no one was badly hurt in the tornado, and the help from the community was going a long way.
"Knowing that everything is going to be okay is keeping me going," Sanders explained.
The volunteer center for tornado relief is stationed at New Life Church.
On Thursday, organizers said around 500 volunteers helped out across Oak Grove.
Volunteer coordinator Ivan Lindner said the community continued to bring a united spirit to help in the recovery.
"The community response has been phenomenal," he said. "(Volunteers) are just going, 'We just want to help. We just want to give back. This could have been us. We want to help our neighbors.'"
Lindner said the large amount of donations has led to many items being available to tornado victims.
Several companies, like Home Depot, Lowe's, and Duracell, have also been sending teams to help families impacted by the storm.
"Everybody is helping everybody," he said. "Everybody is their friend and their neighbors. They all can pull together in these type of situations."
On Friday morning, an official multi-agency resource center will open to provide even more resources to the tornado victims.
Later on Friday, a "Panther Strength" rally will be held at New Life Church at 5 p.m.
Several volunteers gathered at Oak Grove Church of Christ on Wednesday to provide disaster relief assistance.
“We have a national disaster Church of Christ team we worked with and they gave us a call yesterday and started rolling from there,” said Darrell Andrews, an elder with Oak Grove Church of Christ. “We had a semi delivered this morning, a semi full, and it should supply over 300 families with all kinds of different things they need.”
From cleaning supplies to food and toiletries, Andrews says he hopes these will give these families some comfort.
“We know this is not going to be over within a week, they will have to deal with a lot of different things,” Andrews said. “We are all from the community here in Oak Grove and we are going to be here.”
“I just wanted to come help out with the people who lost their homes and who needed help,” 14-year-old Jonna Burrows said. “We love them and they are always welcome to get help from us.”
Andrews hopes with these disaster relief efforts happening across the community, families get the care they need.
“It is an emotional time, but when communities come together like this, this is what happens. We will get through it,” Andrews said.
For Cindy Nield, who lost her pole barn in the tornado, she says strangers and friends coming to help her and others in need.
Oak Grove Church of Christ will be providing disaster relief assistance from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Organizers said they’ll be providing assistance until all the items run out.
Here are a couple options if you are looking to help victims of the Oak Grove tornado.
The Oak Grove Chamber of Commerce has set up an account for donations at the Central Bank of the Midwest in Oak Grove.
- Checks can be written out to the "Oak Grove Chamber of Commerce"
- Mail to: 500 Broadway, Oak Grove, Mo. 64075
- Call 816-690-8484
The Oaks of Edgewood Clubhouse is collecting donations of supplies.
- They are looking items such as blankets, toiletries, blankets, clothes, storage tubs, non-perishable food and bottled water.
- Items can be dropped off at 1201 S.W. 10th Terrace, Oak Grove, MO 64075
Red Cross
- The Red Cross advises anyone wishing to donate items to tornado and storm victims to call 211 for more info.
A Disaster Relief Resident Resource Center has been opened at the First Baptist Church.
- Located at 400 SE 14th Street, Oak Grove, Mo. 64075
- It's open on Friday, March 10 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- It provides insurance information, legal services, food stamp replacement services, health and wellness services, emergency financial assistance and more.
- Residents must bring proof of access.
- Child care provided.
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