MIssion of Compassion 6:Lone Grove

[Jeff Smith]

Ok, details are starting to come together! Looks like the mission is a GO!

First let me start by stating the needs at this time. I have been in contact with several folks in the area and the common need is trash bags, work gloves, and workers. They have plenty of clothes, so no clothes are needed. I spoke with one of the coordinators at the Lone Grove Assembly of God and he told me that there will be a need for non-perishable foods (canned, etc.) and water. Diapers and baby formula could also be used. So, basically I would like to bring with us:

Large trash bags

Work gloves

Diapers

Formula

Large plastic totes with lids for storage

Cleaning materials for damaged homes (brooms, paper towels, etc.)

Water (I am working on securing some water or sports drink…details later)

Canned food items



I spoke with the pastor at the Church of Christ yesterday & he is making plans to distribute food & water to relief workers and residents on Sunday, and he mentioned that he could use some help. When we get there, we can help in this area after dropping off supplies.



I feel that we should also organize a toy drive for the kids that lost everything. Maybe we can collect new or almost new toys for a few weeks, and return to distribute them. I have an idea for distributing the toys, but I cannot share details yet but trust me, it will be unique and the kids will be blessed by this effort!!



As of now, plans are to leave Verdigris from New Life Baptist Church at noon Sunday, and return Sunday night. A Saturday trip would not be practical at this time.



If you feel that you can help by donating, or coming along, please let me know ASAP! My contact info is below.



Lone Grove statistics:

Feb 10, 2009 an EF-4 devastating tornado tore through the community at 7:30pm. Sadly, 9 people lost their lives in this tragedy.

The official numbers for Lone Grove is 118 homes completely destroyed, 28 with major damage, 26 with minor damage, and 16 affected.



Jeff Smith
918-808-4683

 

[Shawna Davies]

Jeff,

Can you post a place where people can donate cash? I can't make it down to physically help on this mission but would like to help you with the materials needed.

LOVE your organization!

Thanks!
Shawna Davies

 

[Scott Roberts]

Where to send money

In case Jeff gets too busy to check back, here's an idea...

His photography blog is linked in his profile here. In his profile on the blog, you'll find his email address. You can send paypal to any email address....

...oh, and another way we can all help out is to post about it on our own blogs and let our contacts know about the effort.

 

[Jeff Smith]

Donation suggestions....

Thank you for your responses. You can mail a check adressed to:

Jeff Smith at 10336 E 2nd St Claremore Ok. 74019

Please make the check out to New Life Baptist Church with "Mission of Compassion" in the memo area. They have a fund for the Mission and it will also be tax deductible. Additionally, donations not used are stored in the fund until needed. There always is a next time, unfortunately.

You can also send PP to [email protected] and I will get it.

You can also call me if you have any questions....918.808.4683...

 

[Shawna Davies]

Thanks Jeff!

Will be sending a donation stat!

Shawna

 

[Jeff Smith]

Thank you Shawna! It is appreciated.

 

[Jeff Smith]

Friday update....

Just wanted to post a quick update....this is the text of an e-mail that I sent out today. Thank you to all that have responded!!!!


A little disclaimer about this article I found:
This article will stir your heart, and you will cry…
http://www.newsok.com/lone-grove-families-honor-those-lost-to-storm/article/3346032?custom_click=lead_story_title

I have just read this, and it gives me focus and resolve to help these victims. Let’s all band together and make this a mission that the Lord can be honored through…..

I still need someone to go shopping for me tonight or tomorrow morning……if this is you, please call me asap….918-808-4683 or 918-317-6822.

Let’s focus our efforts on getting trash bags, work gloves, plastic totes, new socks & underwear for the victims.

Plan still is to leave from New Life Baptist Church this Sunday at noon. Channel 2 will be there to do a quick interview, and then we will be on our way. We will eat sandwiches that are being prepared by “Mom” (Karen Leath & crew)…thank you!

I picked up a donation from Victory Christian center of 1/2 pallet of Powerade, some baby food, and 1/2 pallet of Little Debbie snacks!! My truck is FULL! I will be renting a U-Haul trailer in the morning for additional donations!

 

[Mickey Ptak]

Jeff sold 29 copies of the Storms of 2008 at his chaser gathering a few weeks ago. I have decided that the profits made off those sales totaling $580 will be donated to Mission of Compassion for any help we can give to those down in Lone Grove.

Thank you Jeff for your efforts in helping these victims.

Mick

 

[Jeff Smith]

We're loaded up, ready to go!
Thanks everyone for the outpouring of love & compassion for our neighbors. I will post a report when we return as time permits!
Thanks again everyone!

 

[Lanny Dean]

I certainly do not want to post for Jeff but I thought I would let everyone know that Mission Of Compassion #6 was a great success!!!!
I do not want to give away all the details as I will let Jeff do that but,
I was able to go down with Jeff and company to Lone Grove to help and it was amazing!! I will let Jeff post to explain more.
On the way back, I lost a front seal in the "old beast" tornado truck but even with all that it was really great to be able to be a part of Mission Of Compassion 6.
Thanks to Jeff for setting it up and allowing me to go!

On a harder note......we took the time to view the damage areas from south west of Lone Grove and then followed it up into the city proper. I took many pictures and almost 60 minutes of video. I plan on posting some pics and video on my blog site in a few days and I am sure Jeff and TJ will do the same as he also took many pictures.
No doubt we all know this tornado was a killer tornado and the damage we saw definitely reflected that, however; I wanted make a public note that I personally could not find anywhere or any place where the road or street or concrete had been scoured as others had reported on websites and forums.
I will also post more on my blog about this later tonight.

Thanks again Jeff!

 

[Jeff Smith]

Thanks Lanny for posting....I will post a complete report hopefully later tonight...I just returned from the hospital to see my niece. She had a terrible accident Saturday morning. It breaks my heart to see her with all those tubes & wires....she is still in ICU, and docs say that she will be ok, but it will be a long recovery. Thanks all for your prayers & support.
...just trying to calm down a bit right now....

 

[Jeff Smith]

Mission of Compassion report.

Mission of Compassion 6, Lone Grove: Courage in the face of tragedy...

We left after church on Sunday and met up with Tom Stroud in Catoosa and then Lanny Dean & his sister Rhonda joined us in Bristow. It was a long drive down there but after we arrived, I was soberly reminded of why we do this. A town was destroyed; peoples’ lives were ripped apart. They needed our help.

When we drove into the town, the damage was obvious. We saw trees down, sheet metal everywhere. We stopped at the 1st Assembly of God to drop off supplies and saw that the church had sustained major damage. Ironically, their steeple was torn from the church and landed in the town bar across the street. One thing that touched my heart was that this church, while damaged, was providing needed help to the folks of Lone Grove. That is where the heart of the Lord is, in my opinion. They were very grateful to receive the supplies. We left them with plenty of PowerAde, Little Debbie snacks, thousands of trash bags, and some baby food.

Not long after we arrived I met the mayor. He described how everything had happened and even helped us unload supplies. That’s what I call a hands-on mayor! He described what happened as the tornado ripped through town. He called on about 40 volunteer firefighters & EMT’s and about 90-100 showed up to help search & rescue immediately after the tornado.

We then pulled in to the church of Christ. After we unloaded the rest of our supplies there the pastor offered his heartfelt appreciation and gave a prayer of thanksgiving for our efforts. Both churches were very hospitable to us and I am thankful that they are helping in this time of crisis in Lone Grove.

After this, we drove out to the south end of town and to the Bar K mobile home park that was destroyed. It was surreal. There were people walking through what used to be the streets of the park, still in shock almost two weeks after the storm. Metal, glass, insulation everywhere as you might expect. I had to get off by myself for a few minutes to take a few deep breaths and choke back some tears. As I looked down into the valley that used to be the trailer park, my heart just sank. I thought about the 9 people that lost their lives. I thought about the kids that have no toys, no bicycles now. I thought about the lost family heirlooms, the pictures, and all of the items in the peoples’ homes that were gone. I thought about 13 year old Kaylee Fambrough, who lost both parents while desperately trying to hold on to them during the horror. How does one describe this devastation? Hard to think about it, but if you can imagine a bulldozer rolling through your home, then that might be close. In the rubble I saw some interesting things, part of a wall that was splintered into what looked like a cross; a bowl with a spoon in it, another pile of rubble looked like a cross that had stuff wrapped around it, baby shoes, 8-track tapes with an 8-track player and lost of other odd items. It was hard to look at all the devastation.

While we were there, I spoke to our youth group and told them that while they had fun on the way down there, that to remember the reason we came. I looked around at these former homes and said that this is why we come. To put our arms around them and let them know that we care, and that God cares.

To the ones that went; Lanny, Rhonda, Tom, Karen, Jim, Tonya, TJ, Stenton, Chrissy, Karmyn, Mary Ann, Clay, Stephanie, Joey, Kimi, Seth, Tyler, thank you for your service. Thanks Jim, Tonya, Tom, Lanny, and Karen for driving 400 miles with us in 8 hours { To the kids, thank you for taking the time to go and let these good folks know that we care. To those that donated food, drink, supplies, or money—thank you so much! The mission wouldn’t have been possible without your caring hearts. To those who simply kept us and the victims in your prayers, thank you. Your prayers were appreciated by all.
Please hold the victims of the Lone Grove tornado in your prayers as they continue on this difficult journey.

 

[Tom Stroud]

As Lanny Dean and Jeff Smith have posted Mission of Compassion #6 was a grate success...it has been nothing but good working with Jeff and Lanny in this grate effort. We had many donations in the weeks time we had to get ready for it. To all those that went "good job" thank you for all the support. I know there will be a Mission of Compassion #7 and I will be in the trenches with them.

Tom Stroud
Ktul-8