So many of you continue to ask for specific ways you can help those devastated by the tornado in Joplin. Here are some more needs I found out about today:
Supplies Urgently Needed
If you will be heading to Joplin in the next 24 hours, The Bridge is urgently needing: Neosporin, hydrogen peroxide, pillows, cleaning supplies, bandages, pain medicine, sunscreen, razors and tarp. They will be opening up tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. They are located at 3405 S. Hammons Blvd (right off of I-44), Joplin, MO 64804. Their phone number is: 417-206-6886. They also would gladly accept any volunteer help.
Homeschooling/Educational Materials Needed
There were a number of homeschooling families who lost everything (including all their homeschool curriculum and supplies) in the tornado. Light of Faith (a book company based in Joplin, MO whose owners are personal friends of our family) is working with a local homeschool mom to collect homeschool donations for these families. If you have homeschool or educational materials (new or used) that you would like to donate, please contact homeschooltornadorelief @ gmail.com (remove spaces) for details on where to send your items.
Other Donations Needed
Convoy of Hope is working in conjunction with a team from Central Bible College to go door-to-door to help supply residents in Joplin with whatever they need.
I talked with Denise today, who is working on the ground with Convoy of Hope in Joplin, and she said they would welcome mailed material donations and are especially needing:
::Box tape
::Plastic totes
::Knee pads and work gloves
::New socks and underwear
::Tylenol and pain medication
::Canned foods
::Things for children: sidewalk chalk, bubbles, bouncy balls, crayons and coloring books, etc.You can send donations to:
Convoy of Hope
330 South Patterson
Springfield, Missouri 65802
To read more about Convoy of Hope and how they are helping those in Joplin, visit their Facebook Page.
Thank you for all you are doing to help these needy folks. They continue to express their humble and overwhelming gratitude for how complete strangers are reaching out and helping them get back up on their feet.
I’m taking a truck load of donations to Joplin. I live in Wichita, KS. If anyone wants to donate anything I’d love to take it there for you.
[email protected] is my email
I will also be sending out items this week in a flat rate box filled with items you will need! So happy to help 🙂
Could anyone please tell me how bad was it? I have family there and haven’t been able to contact them.I’ve never been in Joplin and don’t know how big it is,so I don’t know if there was damage where they live,any info is appreciate it thanks
This is the 8th worst tornado on record. 6,000 structures were damaged or destroyed. Where did your family live? What street? I could probably tell you if that street was in the “red zone” or not. You could also try safeandwell.org to see if they are listed there. Everyone who is in one of the shelters should be listed on that website. I’m so sorry you haven’t been able to contact them!! We’ll be praying!
http://www.fourstateshomepage.com and http://www.joplinglobe.com have updates on what is needed as well…..cannot believe that we just moved to MT from Carthage (25 miles away) just four weeks ago. Dh and son would not be working now………
I was wondering if its okay to take bandages out of the box they come in since they are still sealed in order to fit more in the shipping box. Also does anyone know if there is a place to send pet food or could I send that to convoy of hope too? (I have a few sample size bags I could squeeze in the box)
We had a group from our church try to go up this weekend but were told that because of the looting happening only those who live there will be allowed in and to give all the items we collected to our local red cross with the intent that it go to Joplin MO specifically.
I’m so sorry you got turned away! Where did you go? We’ve had people here from as far away as Washington (the state) to help for a day. Who did you check in with? If you connected with a local group already organizing clean up crews, I think you could probably get in.
Thanks so much for your willingness to give of your time and resources! We are so very grateful!
Christina,
Thank you so much for wanting to help here in Joplin. We have been truly overwhelmed with support from all over the nation. Here are a few things to keep in mind. There is still a curfew in the damaged area of Joplin from 9 pm – 6 am. Please do not come during this time. Also, some of the main donation/volunteer centers have been inundated with both donations and people wanting to help and are starting to turn people away. Here are some suggestions:
1. Check with other centers:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/lv?hl=en_US&key=t7FpXE61_2vBAn9fQ_QkQKA&toomany=true#gid=0
2. If no success at any of the above centers, call State Representative Bill White for additional locations (417-434-5361).
3. For volunteers wanting to help with clean up, work through Samaritan’s Purse (centered at Forest Park Baptist Church – 7th & Rangeline Rd), or just go out into a damaged area and start asking residents what you can do to help.
Thank you I will pass that on! We had some members from our church try to go and I am not sure who they spoke with but were very let down when they heard not to go up. They ended up getting in contact with a semi truck driver who was from Joplin and he took what we collected. I will pass on this news and see if we can’t get there this coming weekend. It might work out better since this is the last week of school and we had so many youth that wanted to go.
Joplin native and Nascar driver Jamie McMurray has CONVOY OF HOPE on his car today in the COKE 600. Hew was just on FOX talking about it. He will visit Joplin on Thursday. I am sure he will be helping out somehow.
Also don’t forget about those with food allergies. I am really feeling for my fellow celiac/gluten intolerant people who live in and near Joplin! There are also people that can’t eat dairy, soy, eggs, etc.
Joplin MOPS has an Amazon.com wishlist for the “mothers of preschoolers” that lost everything: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/16TWZAI8HQPZC/ref=cm_sw_su_w
Please also don’t forget about our furry friends. Over 400 beloved pets have been misplaced in the storm and are desperately needing food.
Take a look at what our school is doing here: http://www.denvermetromoms.com/?p=13501
Safe Light Glass offered to drive our supplies to Joplin and our local Target has donated gift cards. If you live in 80016 contact me if you would like me to get your donations to our school for transport.
Our elementary school did an amazing job collecting supplies which are now bound for Joplin courtesy of Safelight Glass and a wonderful volunteer driver. Our local Target donated gift cards. Read about our generous kids and families at http://www.denvermetromoms.com/?p=13501 If you live in are area (80016) we will have another drive next week and I would be happy to deliver the items to the school to save your shipping costs.
For those who have small items, the big plastic coffee containers with lids can be put to use to put their jewelery, photos, etc in… not perfect for stacking, but would keep small items together in storage until they have time to sort and properly put things up, as time is not something they can afford on salvaging some things.
We’re partnering with Knox Laboratory in Oklahoma for a coupon drive. Couponers in OK are taking coupon donations to help stretch donation dollars in an effort to get as many supplies as possible to the people of Joplin. There’s a whole write-up about it at http://www.fresnocouponing.com/heartland
I will definitely be mailing out some supplies Tuesday in a flat rate priority mail box packed as full as possible. Do unto others.
We also need plastic storage tubs for moving, storage, weather protection of household items.