Addicted to Giving Back – Joplin Tornado Relief

 
As many of you know, Joplin, Missouri was hit with an EF5 tornado on May 22, 2011.  This terrible storm not only took many innocent lives, but completely destroyed much of the city, as well as leaving so many people homeless.  The images that are coming from that corner of America are shocking.  What was once a normal-looking town of nearly 50,000 now looks like a war zone. It’s especially personal for us as my husband spent 10 years growing up there. The people in Joplin (as well as a number of other American towns and cities that have been rocked by recent storms and tornadoes) need help.  They need volunteers, donations, and encouragement.  They need assistance from others as they attempt to rebuild their town, their homes, and their lives. To see a video that gives you just a glimpse of the tragedy that happened in Joplin, and the tremendous work that lays ahead for this town, go HERE. 

You can read an amazing story of survival HERE(taken from K-LOVE’s Morning Show Facebook page). 

With the help of my friend Kari, Addicted to Saving has compiled a list of organizations for you to help!  The following organizations are looking for not only monetary donations, but a number of items that many of us are able to get for very little or for free!  This is a wonderful opportunity for many of you to give back.  Would you please take a look at the lists below, take a look at your own stockpile, and please donate to those who desperately need your help in Joplin?  Consider going together with another friend, your small group from church, or perhaps even your neighbors on your street to pull together packages to send to Joplin.

The following are lists of organizations (most of them are local churches) and what they specifically need.  PLEASE do not send them things that are not on this list.  The people who are putting together these lists have asked that you do not send items they do not need as it hampers their efforts to most effectively help those who require it.  Thank you in advance for following these instructions.

Lastly, the lists posted here are needs that these people need NOW.  As you gather your care package, please do so with a sense of urgency.  I would predict that these lists may change by the end of the week, so if you are not able to send your packages within a few days, please go to each of these organization’s websites for an updated list of needs.

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Pleasant Hill First Christian Church (will deliver to First Christian Church in Joplin)

http://www.phfccdisciples.org/

Packages may be sent to:

Pleasant Hill First Christian Church
Attn:  Disaster Relief
125 N. Armstrong St.
Pleasant Hill, MO  64080-1307

List of needs (from their website, as of 6/15/11):

– Water (by the case)
– Cleaning supplies
– Food
– Juices
– Jelly
– Peanut butter
– Snack cakes
– Chips
– Instant oatmeal
– Personal care items (soap, shampoo, lotion, tooth paste, tooth brushes)
– Hair dryers
– Shave cream and razors
– Women’s personal hygiene items
– Baby needs (formula, diapers, ointment, body wash)
– All sizes of underwear
– Sun block
– Insect repellent
– Flashlights and batteries
– Rakes
– Tote bags
– Containers for clean up
– Work gloves
– Manual can openers
– Pots and pans
– Styrofoam containers with lids (used to take meals out into the community)

** PLEASE, no clothing at this time! **

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Grace Baptist Church, Joplin, MO

http://www.gracebaptistjoplin.com/blog.php

Packages may be sent to:

Grace Baptist Church
Attn:  Disaster Relief
3130 S. Wall St.
Joplin, MO  64804

List of needs (from their website, as of 6/15/11): 

Note:  Jesse Hales at Grace Baptist Church says that they do NOT need the following items:  clothing, water, baby diapers or baby wipes.  They are currently overwhelmed with these items at this time.  Thank you!

Cash
We need money to buy the things that are not donated.  For example, we are feeding 5,000 per week and it costs us more than $1,000 a day to purchase meat and other items not donated just to feed the people.  So even if you collect items for us, would you please consider an offering?  You can make a donation through Paypal HERE.

Collect and send to Joplin any of the following items:

Cleaning supplies
Brooms, dust pans, mops, Pine Sol or other floor cleaners, bathroom and kitchen cleaners, glass cleaner, Lysol spray, air fresheners, carpet freshener, etc.

Gift cards
We need $10.00 gift cards to Wal-Mart to give to people for shopping and gasoline.

Clothing
We are not receiving any more clothing.  However, we do need new children’s, men’s, and ladies’ underwear and socks.

Food
We do not need water.  We have plenty of water, but we could use Gatorade, juice, juice boxes, soda of all flavors.  We also need canned goods and non-perishable food items.

Paper products
Paper towels, tissues, paper plates, plastic knives, forks, and spoons, paper or plastic cups, zip-lock sandwich bags, toilet paper, moving boxes, packing tape, contractor trash bags, and diapers of all sizes.  This will be an on-going need for some time.

Misc. needs
Rakes, all sizes of batteries, coolers, Rubbermaid plastic totes, toasters, can openers, laundry detergent, Clorox 2, fabric softener, and dryer sheets.  Really needing the plastic totes, as some people are living out of these.

Personal hygiene items (the smaller the bottles, the better)
Bar soap, liquid soap, shampoo, deodorant, mouthwash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shaving cream, disposable razors, hair gel, hair spray, combs, brushes, hand-held mirrors, etc.

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Joplin Family Worship Center:

http://www.jfwc.org/  (Click on “Disaster Relief Center”)

Packages may be sent to:

Joplin Family Worship Center
Attn:  Disaster Relief
5290 E. 7^th St.
Joplin, MO  64801

List of needs (from their website, as of 6/15/11):

Furniture
    Beds (all sizes – Mattresses, Box Springs, Frames)
    Couches & Love Seats
    Dining Room Table & Chairs
    Dressers
    End Tables
    Lamps

Gift Cards
   Gas Cards
   Sam’s/Walmart Cards
   Target

Appliances
   Refrigerators
   Freezers
   Stoves
   Window A/C Units
   Box Fans
   Microwaves
   Washers & Dryers
   Toasters
   Can Openers

Cleaning Supplies
   Bathroom Cleaners & Disinfectants
   Buckets
   Mops
   Brooms
   Vacuum Cleaners
   Dish Soap
   Bleach
   Garbage Cans & Trash Bags

Linens
    Sheet Sets (all sizes)
    Pillows
    Blankets & Comforters
    Towels & Wash Cloths

Paper Products
    Paper Plates
    Paper Cups
    Paper Bowls
    Napkins
    Ziplock Bags (all sizes)
    Facial Tissue
    Bathroom Tissue
    Paper Towels

Items For Resource Center
    Large Tents for Storage
    File Cabinets
    Shelving
    8-ft Collapsible Tables
    Folding Chairs
    Hand Carts
    Tractors
    Generators
    Lawn Mowers

Laundry Items
    Laundry Detergent
    Bleach
    Dryer Sheets
    Laundry Baskets

School Supplies
    NEW Back Packs
    NEW Pencils
    NEW Crayons
    NEW Notebooks
    NEW Markers
    NEW Glue Sticks
    NEW Construction Paper
    NEW Scissors
    NEW Lunch Boxes

Baby Items
    Car Seats
    Pack and Plays
    NEW Baby Clothes
    Baby Formula
    Diapers
    Baby Wipes
    Baby Toiletries (powder, shampoo, etc.)

First Aid Items
    Bandages
    Tape & Gauze
    Triple Antibiotic Cream
    Sun Screen
    Insect Repellent

Toiletries (NOT Travel Sizes)
    Shampoo & Conditioner
    Bar Soap & Body Wash
    Toothpaste & Toothbrushes
    Deodorant
    Men & Women’s Razors
    Shaving Cream

Clothing (ONLY items listed)
    NEW Men’s Socks & Underwear
    NEW Women’s Undergarments
    NEW Men & Women’s Shoes 
    NEW Maternity Clothes
    NEW Extended Sizes & Plus Sizes 

Household Items
    Dish Sets
    Silverware
    Serving Utensils
    Pots & Pans
    Cooking Utensils
    Computers & Laptops

Misc. Items
    Batteries (all sizes)
    Tarps & Rope
    Gas Cans
    Rain Ponchos
    Duct Tape
    Box Cutters
    Work Boots & Work Gloves
    Exerosorm Wrap

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Ozarks Food Harvest Food Bank (located in Springfield, delivering items to Joplin daily)

http://www.ozarksfoodharvest.org/fooddrive.html

Packages may be sent to:

Ozarks Food Harvest
Attn:  Joplin Disaster Relief
2810 N. Cedarbrook Ave.
P.O. Box 5746
Springfield, MO 65801-5746

List of needs (from their website, as of 6/15/11):

FOOD ITEMS
• Easy open, ready to eat nonperishable food items
• Peanut butter
• Canned goods and can openers
• Snacks, such as crackers and granola bars

 PAPER PRODUCTS
• Paper plates
• Eating utensils
• Paper towels
• Toilet paper

CLEANING SUPPLIES
• Bleach & misc. cleaners
• Disinfecting wipes
• Trash Bags
• Gloves-latex and leather

 PERSONAL CARE ITEMS
• Hand sanitizer
• Soap and shampoo
• Deodorant
• Toothpaste and toothbrushes
• Diapers & baby wipes

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The following are a list of reputable, trust-worthy, non-profit organizations that are currently meeting the needs of those in Joplin, as well as many other areas that were affected by this spring’s storms.  If you have the means to donate a monetary gift, please consider donating to these worthy organizations that have the ability to help so many who are in need:

Convoy of Hope – http://www.convoyofhope.org

Samaritan’s Purse – http://www.samaritanspurse.org

American Red Cross – http://www.redcross.org

** Gifts in-kind can only be donated if of sizeable quantity or in bulk; see website for more details. **

Salvation Army – http://www.salvationarmyusa.org

World Vision – http://www.worldvision.org

Thank you in advance for your compassion and willingness to reach out to others!  Your help, no matter how large or how small, is important!  You are making a big difference in the lives of others.