Tornado relief drive ends Sunday
A tornado relief drive for the residents of Joplin, Missouri, is being organized by local Cairo resident Jerry Mobley. The old Ford dealership in Cairo will serve as the storage and collection location for the donated disaster relief items.
“I’ve been in situations where I’ve needed help, and there were people there to lend a hand. I’m just trying to pay it forward,” said Mobley.Most needed items are non-perishable food, water, juice, baby food and formula, diapers, wipes, and personal care items, but any items, including clothing, will be accepted. Donations can be dropped off at the old Ford dealership 11am-6pm until Sunday, June 5.
Conway Truck Lines has volunteered to drive the donations to Joplin and will be leaving Cairo Sunday evening.
Donations have already been arriving from individuals and businesses in the local area.
“It’s times like this when we all have to bond together to help our neighbors, even if they are many miles away. I’d want that kind of help if it happened here,” said Sandra Casey, manager of The Uniform Outlet & Gift Gallery in Moultrie who donated five large crates of medical scrubs for the personal at St. John’s Hospital in Joplin.
For more information, call (229)221-6526.
Tornados hit Joplin, Missouri, last month killing 138 and injuring more than one thousand. The deadly F-5 tornado damaged or destroyed over 8000 homes and caused an estimated $1-3 billion dollars in damages.