Residents initiate collection drive for Missouri tornado victims
By Kyser Lough
Staff Writer
Two local residents with ties to Joplin, Mo., are putting together relief efforts to help the tornado-devastated community.
Tim Hampton, vice president of sales at South Eastern Book Company grew up in Seneca, Mo., just 15 miles south of Joplin. After he graduated high school, he lived in Joplin and said he still has many friends from the area. The city was hit on May 22 by an EF-5 tornado, causing massive destruction to the community.
"When I saw (the television coverage), I obviously started trying to communicate with everyone I could. Half of my friend base lives there and my parents still live south of Joplin," Hampton said. "There was no phone service but my friends started checking in one by one, gradually."
The stories relayed to Hampton told a tale of total devastation. He said one of his close friends and his wife were left with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Their house was one of many that was leveled down to the foundation. One of Hampton’s high school classmates died in a bathtub protecting his wife, a story that made national headlines. And those are just some of the stories coming from the area.
"It’s a pretty sad story," Hampton said. "Just being from around the area and knowing the amount of people I do has made it pretty difficult living six hours away and feeling helpless."
Instead of simply feeling helpless, Hampton decided to do what he could to help those affected by the tornado. From his connections at SEB , he used available resources to put together a collection of needed items that will be shipped up to rescue centers in Joplin. Hampton said the recovery efforts are going to be underway for a long time but he hopes the generosity of the local community will help.
Jill Courtney, owner of Red Bug on Third, has a brother who lives in the Joplin area with his wife and children. They go to a church that was just 200 yards away from where the tornado struck and is now shelter for storm victims. Courtney is planning on taking four others for a five-day trip to Joplin on Saturday, June 4 to offer their assistance in the recovery.
Like Hampton, Courtney is gathering items to bring along in a rented trailer that can be distributed to the affected families.
"I thought it would be a good idea to get things together. They have had a response from all over the world but are still in need," Courtney said.
Courtney will be collecting items at her store on Third Street in Murray Friday and Saturday before leaving. Hampton has placed public collection bins at First United Methodist Church (weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and First Baptist Church (weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) on the courthouse square as well as SEB on U.S. 641 North (weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). The collection bins will be available until Tuesday, June 7.
Both Courtney and Hampton said they have been told clothing is not needed at this time. Items needed include: work gloves, hand tools, facial dust masks, "D" cell batteries, flashlights, sunscreen, insect repellent, laundry detergent, new socks, new underwear, personal toiletries, cleaning supplies, paper towels, paper products, diapers, baby formula and baby food.
More information on Joplin relief efforts may be found on a web page set up by the Missouri government at http://www.mo.gov/05222011joplintornadoes/.