The Tornado Recovery Warehouse is still open, and the Kokomo Rescue Mission has been working to provide items to families around the city.
On Saturday, the Kokomo Rescue Mission sent teams out into neighborhoods that were hit the hardest, including Cedar Crest. The teams went door-to-door to provide items such as water and to talk with residents about what they need and how they’re doing.
“We also give them somebody to talk to for a little bit,” said Sally Ripley, Kokomo Rescue Mission director of development. “We out and meet with people, try to minister to them, and try to see what other kinds of needs they have.”
The Kokomo Rescue Mission also helped with recovery efforts after the 2013 tornado, but a few things are different this time around. For one, Ripley estimated that more residents were affected, requiring some kind of emergency shelter after the storms.
The warehouse is also in a different location. In 2013, the warehouse was in a vacant building at 500 E. Wheeler St. That building is now occupied, and recovery crews had to find a new place to house the warehouse.
It took a few days, but the warehouse opened on Monday, Aug. 29, at the GM building at 2161 E. Boulevard St.
The site is perfect, Ripley said. It’s clean and has plenty of space.
“We’re grateful they were letting us use that space,” Ripley said.
Walmart and Meier loaned the warehouse shopping carts, she said, and people coming in could shop almost as if they were at an actual store, though they won’t face a price tag at the end of their visit.
People coming in need to bring a photo ID and proof of an address in the tornado-affected areas or a referral from the Red Cross or United Way.
The warehouse is only accepting food and monetary donations right now. They no longer need any bottled water, clothes or hygiene products.
The community support is just as strong as it was after the last tornado, Ripley said. In fact, the warehouse has received ample donations, and thousands of volunteers have helped clean up after the tornadoes.
“It’s amazing to me how well our community comes together and gets volunteers to go out and do these things,” Ripley said.
The warehouse is open this week on Tuesday and Thursday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday and Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
By Caele Pemberton 09/07/16
Photo by Tim Bath
