“It’s been neighbor helping neighbor.”
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“A lot of people have pitched in,” said Susan Heldenbrand, a member of the Alta Vista Baptist Church. “It’s been neighbor helping neighbor.”
The Alta Vista Church has served as a center for volunteers wanting to help with clean up after the disastrous storms in the area. The church began serving meals Sunday noon, with supper that evening. The church offered breakfast, lunch and supper on Monday and Tuesday. Lunch was served today (Wednesday), which is the last volunteer work day. Church members have been taking water and pop to the site since the disaster occurred. Over 150 people showed up for lunch on Monday.
The Daviess and DeKalb County Health Departments have been giving tetanus shots at the church to any of the volunteers who felt they needed one.
The church purchased food Sunday to get things going. After an announcement on the Cameron radio, others began helping, including the Weatherby Methodist, Maysville Baptist and the Cameron Baptist churches which brought food. Individuals from Winston, Weatherby, Maysville and many other areas have brought food. Non-perishable food items are available at the food pantry at the church for families that need it.
In addition, a group of between 30-40 Mennonites from Maysville Fellowship, along with members of their church who came from Kansas and South Missouri, offered help, which included bringing in heavy equipment to help clear home sites for rebuilding.
Members of the DeKalb County Rescue and the Missouri Department of Conservation have aided through volunteer work and patrolling spectators. Doug Clemons, a private land specialist who works for Daviess, DeKalb, Caldwell and Clinton, had just built a brand new house on the Daviess County side. His house received roof damage from the twister and damage to the siding, as well as blowing out the windows and causing water damage to the carpets.