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Valley residents offer relief to Joplin flood victims
The Vindicator ( Youngstown)
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Bob Cole, left, and the Rev. Rusty Wills are coordinating Joplin Relief, a grassroots effort in the faith community to collect donations for victims of the devastating tornado in May in Joplin, Mo. Donations, like the ones shown, will be accepted today through Friday at three sites in the Mahoning Valley.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
BOARDMAN
Individuals from across the Mahoning Valley will follow the theme of “being the hands and feet of Jesus” as they participate in Joplin Relief.
The theme is based on Matthew 25:38-40, in which Jesus said good deeds performed for those in need are also done for him.
Organizers hope to fill a 53-foot-long trailer that’s 9 feet tall and 9 feet wide with donated items to benefit victims of the devastating tornado May 22 in Joplin, Mo.
Collection of food, personal-hygiene items, medical supplies, baby needs, pet products and shoes and socks will be conducted today through Friday at three sites in Boardman, Struthers and Warren.
Spearheading the effort are Bob Cole, a member of Old North Church in Canfield, and the Rev. Rusty Wills of Kingdom Community Church in Struthers. Both described the “grassroots” project as one driven by individual church members and not the churches themselves. “It’s not a church-based effort but a God-based one,” the Rev. Mr. Wills said. “The story is how people are responding,” Cole added.
The idea evolved from prayer walking that Wills coordinates on Wednesdays. A group prays at various sites for different reasons — such as a crime scene or place of positive action. Cole and Mr. Wills said the group met May 25 at Kingdom Community Church to pray for victims of the tornado May 22 in Joplin, Mo., and the idea evolved to put their prayer into action. The group also thanked God for sparing the Valley from devastating weather because May 23 brought unsettled weather and potential for tornadoes in Northeast Ohio.
The two men admitted neither had coordinated anything like this before. Things started to fall into place as Cole made phone calls. “He’s a connector,” Mr. Wills said of his fellow volunteer.
Cole approached his church leadership for input and learned another member, Darrel Hoon, an independent trucker, had told church leaders he was available as a volunteer truck driver if one were ever needed. “You see the sovereignty of God ... before the activity arose, he had volunteered,” Cole said. Barr-Nunn transportation donated a trailer for the trip. “God has opened the doors,” Mr. Wills said.
Through various connections and networking, Cole and Wills said the Valley group is working through AmeriCorps, which provides local service programs to meet critical community needs. “We’re working through that agency,” Cole said. Donations from the Valley will go through AmeriCorps for distribution to Joplin residents.
Cole and the pastor encouraged Valley residents to be “faith walkers,” and support the project. A case lot of cans of vegetables or soup costs about $10 at discount groceries and club stores. “If you can’t do that alone, get a family member to go in with you,” Cole said.
Word of mouth and emails have spread the details about the project in the faith community. Volunteers are coming from the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley, Teen Challenge and Blue Knights of Youngstown along with individuals from Valley churches.
Members of various churches in the Mahoning Valley are banding together to collect items to assist residents of Joplin, Mo., which was devastated by a tornado May 22. The tornado was rated as an EF-4, the second-strongest classification with winds ranging between 166 and 200 miles per hour. The nearly milewide funnel touched down at 5:41 p.m. and covered a six-mile wide path through the city.
Collection dates: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today through Friday.
Collection sites: Clear Channel Youngstown, 7461 South Ave., Boardman; Struthers Plaza, 1022 Fifth St., Struthers; and First Baptist Church of Warren, 3217 Surrey Road Southeast, Warren (known as the church on Eastland; it’s on the corner of two streets.)
Supplies needed: Nonperishable food, preferably in case lots; shoeboxes with personal-hygiene items such as soap, tooth brush, toothpaste, combs, hairbrushes and washcloths; medical items such as aspirin, bandages, antiseptic and antibiotic ointments; baby needs including diapers, baby wipes, lotions and premixed formula only; pet supplies including dog and cat food; adult and children’s new or lightly used shoes and new socks; and sunscreen, bug/mosquito repellent.
Not needed: Clothing or water is not needed at this time.
Monetary donations: Financial gifts to pay for diesel fuel, travel expenses and supplies should be made out to Kingdom Community Church with Joplin Relief in memo field, and sent to 7907 Lee Run Road, Poland, Ohio 44514.
Information: Call the Joplin Hotline at 330-743-1559 to volunteer.