A Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) is providing a one stop shop for Oak Grove families impacted by the tornado.
“They can get information about insurance services, legal assistance. They can get emergency financial assistance from organizations like Catholic Charities of Kansas City St. Joseph, the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.,” Disaster Resiliency Director for Catholic Charities of Missouri & Kansas Aren Koenig said. “A lot of coordinated efforts to bring all the services under one roof; we call it a one stop shop for disaster survivors.”
It’s a place tornado victims like Darlene Soper and her daughter Rogina Beaudrie have come to get legal information and assistance for senior citizens.
“Well when I woke up this morning, the stress was so overwhelming, I didn't know. I looked outside, I didn't know how I was going to get through it,” Soper said. “And then when we came up here, I just felt hope and we started from going from table to table and the stress is like, it's just pouring out of me, and I'm feeling so better.”
“I'm grateful for all this organization,” Beaudrie said. “It makes me feel good, even though I'm in the midst of feeling bad, I feel good because this is great.”
MARC is coordinated by the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities and the City of Oak Grove.
“Nobody plans for disasters to occur,” Koenig said. “We encourage preparedness, but you don't really think it's going to happen to you until it does, so we have resources here at the Multi-Agency Resource Center to help people walk through the process and begin their recovery as soon as possible.”
MARC will be open until 7 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
If you are interested in volunteering, you can contact United Way at 2-1-1.
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Rae Daniel can be reached at Rae.Daniel@KSHB.com.
