I am sure many of you reading this blog have seen nothing on the news but the tragic destruction of Moore, Oklahoma. However, there is a community hit by an EF-3 tornado the night before these terrible events who are being missed by the media entirely.
I live and work in the Little Axe community, and our community is spread throughout the wooded hills of Pecan Valley, Newalla and Little Axe proper. On the 19th, an EF-3 ripped through this community and we are desperately trying to funnel money and supplies to this hard hit area.
Little Axe Schools convened classes this week, but so many students have been affected by the storm on the 19th and were either helping neighbors dig out or cleaning up their own demolished homes that they did not attend school. I asked students write the names of high school students on my dry erase board who had either had their homes destroyed or damaged beyond livability and the list is over 20 students long. My wife works in the elementary school and they compiled a list of over 45 students who either lost their homes or their homes were damaged greatly. These were all confirmed by eyewitness accounts.
Millions of dollars have been flooding in to the Moore community (and that is much needed) but it would be great if we could help this mostly poverty level community rebuild their lives. Many of them did not have homeowners insurance and are relying on the surrounding neighbors and small businesses to help them. We have been helped by Boar’s Head Meats and an Arkasas based company so far, and the Little Axe community has been pulling together with what resources we have with a clothes closet at the elementary school and local churches, but it would be awesome if anyone reading this blog could help out as well.
Today I was able to contact the Red Cross in nearby Norman, and we are working to get 25-30 mailboxes donated from Lowes and I have also been in touch with First Presbyterian Church of Edmond who are willing to get involved, so things are beginning to look up for our kids and their hurting families.
If you would like to help the Pecan Valley tornado victims directly, a fund has been set up by Little Axe Baptist Church that will go to purchasing needed items for these families and will help them rebuild their homes and lives.
You can send a check to:
Pecan Valley Tornado Victims
C/O: Sunny Stewart
3405 168th Ave NE
Norman, OK 73026-9017
Anything, however small, will be appreciated.
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