Army of volunteers descend to help tornado victims

PERRYVILLE, Mo. — An army of volunteers descended Wednesday upon Perry County, following a tornado that displaced scores of families.

More than 20 volunteers with the Mary Jane Burgers and Brew restaurant in Perryville filled the Vintage Room in downtown Perryville on Wednesday to pack lunches for first responders and tornado victims.

Volunteers packed 220 boxed lunches featuring one of three sandwich variations and delivered the meals to the Perry Park Center.

“It’s just our community,” Mary Jane Burgers and Brew owner Carisa Stark said of the reason to donate.

Several local businesses, including Subway, Wal-Mart and Panera, donated food and drinks to first responders Wednesday morning. Villainous Grounds, also in downtown Perryville, donated coffee.

“It was nothing. It was all we can do right now,” Villainous Grounds owner David Bammel said. “We know these guys have been out there all night. Seeing all the people waiting to volunteer, it’s humbling.”

The Buchheit store in Perryville began donating building materials to tornado victims late Tuesday night and delivered cases of water to cleanup crews.

The Perryville Chamber of Commerce provided a list of items residents can donate, including boxes, totes, toiletries, gift cards for groceries and supplies, flashlights with batteries and laundry detergent.

Residents can donate these items at Beef ‘O Brady’s, the Vintage Room, Fixx Salon & Spa, Precision Fitness and Spa and Perry Park Center.

Donations of non-perishable food can be dropped off an Immanuel Lutheran Church from 9 to 10 a.m. today and from 10 a.m. to noon Friday.

Non-perishable food items can be brought to the St. Vincent DePaul Thrift Store from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.

Perry County Park Center was established as the hub of disaster-relief efforts.

The Red Cross established a shelter in the center, although emergency responders were the ones using the cots Wednesday morning.

The Salvation Army also brought in food and drinks and served them at the center.

Perry County Emergency Management coordinator Hank Voelker said it would take an army of volunteers to clear debris caused by the tornado that damaged 180 homes, leveling several to the ground.

He also described the number of people who have decided to volunteer as an army.

Organizers, including the Red Cross’ Marla Barber, could not say the exact number of volunteers.

Midday Wednesday, Barber said organizers wanted potential volunteers to sign up at the Perry Park Center.

Officials were working to assess the damage caused by the tornado and were not sure where people could best serve.

“There will be plenty of volunteer opportunities,” Catholic Charities regional director Kyle Schott said in a news conference. “We suggest spontaneous volunteers not come until an organization is in place.”

On Wednesday afternoon, teams of volunteers — some friends and family of tornado victims — were working to cut up felled trees and clean up debris in the Moore Drive neighborhood that was hardest hit by the tornado.

Schott suggested anyone looking to donate should give money to the Red Cross, Salvation Army or Catholic Charities.

The United Way has established a emergency fund for Perryville tornado victims and people can donate to that fund by texting Perryville to 41444, using a credit card at unitedwayofsemo.org/donate, donating over the phone by calling (573) 334-9634 or mailing or bringing in a check to the United Way office at 430A Broadway.

According to the Perryville Chamber, several businesses and organizations are offering supplies, services and discounts:

• Computer connections: cardboard boxes
• Perry Park Center: Diapers and Paper Products
• Therapy solutions: beds and showers
• Absolute Archery Center: showers
• First Baptist Church of Perryville: tarps
• Dr. Keith Cooper, DDS: toothbrushes and toothpaste
• Russell Cellular: free phone chargers
• RE/MAX Realty Executives: use of its computers, phones, fax machine and copy machine
• H Squared Monograms and More: 30 percent off school apparel
• St. Vincent Schools Fish Fry: free meals Friday
• Ponderosa Steakhouse: free meals to tornado victims
• Richardet Floor Covering: bundles of plastic
• Blue Sky Laundromat: washing clothes of tornado victims
• Perryville Outdoor Products: equipment or generator borrowing
• Sears: tool and generator borrowing
• 51 Rentals: skidsteers, grapples and dump-trailer borrowing
• Macy’s Place: temporary shelter for small pets

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address: 102 N. Jackson St., Perryville, MO