(LAWRENCE CO.) – The first round of relief supplies were delivered last weekend to tornado victims in Tennessee.
In the first round more than 100 coats, numerous blankets and sheets, several hundred dollars of cleaning supplies, personal hygiene supplies, toilet paper, paper towels, clothing, 60 cases of water, food, baby supplies, pots and pans, kitchen utensils, plates, and dishes were collected.
“The supplies were delivered to a transfer center in Cookville, Tennessee. Volunteers sorted out the supplies and took them out to where the people need them,” Tony Ivey stated. “With only a couple days of being able to collect these items, the Lawrence County community came through for this effort.”
Tony is grateful for the response on such short notice.
Ivey says that he and a couple of volunteers went down to Tennessee with chainsaws to help assist in the clean-up effort. Following the tornado, they helped at a home which had been in the family for generations. The family says that the tornado came through and trapped the mother in the home before she was able to get out safely.
“We went in and cut up the trees around their house and done some clean-up there,” Tony added.
Tony and the volunteers worked all day Saturday and then worked in the Lebanon, Tennessee area on Sunday before traveling back to Nashville.
This weekend they will be working and sending supplies to the Lebanon, Tennessee area in the rural parts of town.
Tony described the damage as total devastation. He says that damage could be seen for miles, with only bits of pieces of homes still standing.
“Where we worked this weekend we could turn in circles and see devastation everywhere,” Tony added. “We were in the area where 18 perished in the tornado.”
“We were able to get into the main area of the damage,” he added. “Most of the volunteers only got to work on the outskirts of the damage. We were able to work with families and lineworkers cleaning up the damage and helping get the power restored. It was unlike anything I ever have seen. These people literally lost everything.”
The second round of supplies is being a collected at the Sunoco Station on 16th Street in Bedford. People can drop off supplies at the station or items can be dropped off at Whispering Estates located at 714 West Warren Street in Mitchell.
For this trip, the group doesn’t need water. They need tarps, rolls of plastic, totes to store belongings that are found by residents, cleaning supplies and hygiene items.
Tony and his wife will leave around 5:00 p.m. Friday. His wife will be returning, but Tony and a few other volunteers plan to stay for a couple of days to help with the clean-up.
If you have any questions you can contact Sondra Burris at 812-797-3861.
