I have been so amazed by all of the generosity I have seen or heard about over the past few days! I am so proud to be an Alabamian! So many people are giving of resources and time to help in the recovery from the horrible devastation that struck on Wednesday. But, there is so much more to be done and so much more needed to help all of the many victims of this disaster. Before I ask for more of your help, I want to share with you a note from my cousin that helped in the relief efforts in Mount Hope today. ( hope she doesn’t mind, but it really touched me & I think it will you as well)
“I absolutely had to share some of my experience today. My church went to Mt. Hope to cook for and distribute much needed items to this tornado devastated community. I was scared to death. What would I see? Would I be able to handle it emotionally? I will admit. I cried several times. There is no way to see such horrors and not break down. I saw childrens’ toy ride cars literally wrapped around trees. I saw a family with three small girls sitting on a downed tree crying as they looked through pictures they had salvaged. We listened to a gentleman, chainsaw in hand, as he told us about his homeplace. His land had three houses on it which different family members lived in. All three were leveled. He broke down and cried as he was telling us. Some from our group witnessed chickens from the chicken houses that were destroyed being “put down”. Apparently they have no choice. There is some sort of regulation that requires it. It was horrifying!
Here is the rest of the story of Mt. Hope. It is a very small close knit community. Everyone knows everybody. Gary Dobbs is somewhat of a local celebrity. His home was destroyed in the tornado. We listened to several Mt. Hope folks to tell the story of how Gary was on the phone talking to the tv station when the tornado hit his house. There is a store there that has been owned by the family that built it in the 70s. That store is a total loss. But bless them, they were out there trying to salvage what they could. Their pregnant daughter and her husband working along side mom and dad. We met a young couple in their 20s who had dropped their insurance in order to get some bills caught up. Their house was leveled. But the young man sat there and told funny stories with a smile on his face while we tried to administer first aid to severely sunburned wife. She had been working out in the sun trying to salvage what she could. She had blisters coming up on her neck and chest. I met a 12 year old boy, the same age as my son, who hugged me and told me about how he covered his mom and his sister like a human shield when the tornado destroyed his trailer home. He was going through the donated clothes looking for things for his little sister and his mom who had both been hospitalized. He told me how his Pokemon cards had gotten blown away. Never in my life had I wished for some Pokemon cards like I did at that moment. This little guy will always be in my heart and I never even caught his name. A little girl smiled and ran across the parking lot carrying a pink Bible one of the church members gave her. She was shouting “look what the church people gave me…I can carry it to church with me!” I watched two little girls (maybe 5 and 7) carrying tree limbs bigger than they were out of a yard into a burn pile. We heard the story from several different people about the elderly man who was found dead in the pasture across from his house holding his Bible in his arms. These folks are amazing. They would approach our tents and wouldn’t say a word. Almost like they were afraid to say anything. We had to encourage them to get the items they so badly needed. One of the most amazing things…they all consider themselves lucky. If I heard it once, I heard it 100 times. “We are fortunate, we have insurance. Those folks there didn’t have any.” “We are blessed. We are unhurt and our neighbor lost a loved one.” These things were being said by people who were literally standing in the rubble that used to be their homes. Amazing!!! I think the name of the town, Mt. Hope, suits these folks more than they realize.
Now, let me tell you about a place called Lauderdale County. I have only been a member of Cross Brand Cowboy Church for a few months now. When I went by the church to drop off some things and help load the horse trailer last night, there were two ladies peeling potatos and onions for the chicken stew. I introduced myself and explained that I didn’t know everybody at the church yet. Come to find out these ladies don’t even attend at Cross Brand. They were just there helping out because their son and daughter are members. Today, I jumped in the back of a truck with some men who were delivering chicken stew to different houses. Come to find out two of the three don’t go to church there. Later, I got in a truck with a group of three girls to make some more deliveries. They don’t go to church with me either. I finally asked them how they all ended up with our group. These folks were from Elgin, Center Star, Rogersville, Lexington, and Killen. They all just wanted to help out and when they found out we were going they pitched in and joined the convoy. How awesome is that? One of the girls absolutely moved me. The young lady I mentioned before with the sunburn had on a tank shirt and her shoulders and neck were exposed to the sun. This girl runs to her truck and comes back with one of her tshirts and a hat. She tells the young lady with the sunburn that it is her Relay for Life shirt and her daddy passed from cancer in November. She said she would love for her to have the shirt. It was obvious it was special to her. This same girl was passing out her personal cell number and telling these people to call her if they could think of anything they needed.
The precious people of Mt. Hope really touched my heart today. So did some very special folks from Lauderdale County.”
Doesn’t that encourage us all to dig a little deeper!! Thanks for sharing that story Nessa!!
Here is a list of ways for us to help out. This list is very minimal & the need is great. If you know of another way to help, please email me! theqtippingmom@gmail.com
Desperation church in Cullman
This church is feeding workers & storm victims. They are in need of non perishable food, hygiene items, batteries, probably flash lights too. Ice and bread! Like many other places affected by power outages, these folks can’t buy anything if they do not have cash so they are having to depend on the generosity of others just to eat!
A Q-Tipping Mom Facebook fan writes that her & her Husband are going to the Mt Hope area on Wednesday. Her Husband owns JC Distribution which is a distributor of Sara Lee / Colonial bread items. They are taking his big truck. His co-worker told him a lot of people are focusing on other areas and there are people who are starving there. You can go and read more about the on The Q-Tipping Mom Facebook Page HERE. Let’s FILL this TRUCK UP!!
The Monrovia community center is in desperate need of food. They are off Jeff road.
Epic church in Decatur is taking donations this weekend.
Rock family worship center is in need of water Donations to distribute in areas it is needed most. They are also taking monetary donations on The Rock Family Worship Center Website located HERE.
Park View Relief is accepting donations and volunteers in Cleveland/Bradley County, TN
Gathering of faith! Tomorrow night at 7pm Cullman fairgrounds! Everyone that can go and join together for prayer and worship! Special guest Casting Crowns!!!
Sherwin Williams in Florence and Muscle Shoals are accepting Germ X, Baby supplies, Blankets, Canned food (that can be eaten w/o prep). You can drop off anytime during business hours M-F 7-6, Sat 8-5, Sun 10-4
The old Nationl Guard Armory in Bridgeport, AL. is taking donations to help the families that have lost everything, please help these people in need.
The Salvation Army- Scottsboro,AL
Jackson County Salvation Army needs FOOD AND VOLUNTEERS. Please contact the Jackson County EMA Office 256-574-9344.
Anyone wanting to help with food distribution in Bridgeport, AL> at command center (Hwy 277 & County road 255) contact Marilyn Hill @ 256-495-3614
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