Veterans answer call for help after Kentucky tornado leaves hundreds with nothing
The Kentucky cities of Mayfield and Bowling Green are hundreds of miles from the Downriver area, but a local veterans group was emotionally impacted by their critical need for help after the cities were caught in the path of a deadly tornado.
In fact, members of the Downriver for Veterans group took on a major support effort bringing donated supplies there without even knowing a single resident they were helping.
On Dec. 10, an EF4 tornado reaching wind speeds of more than 190 mph left a 165-mile trail of devastation that claimed the lives of 22 people.
Ann Rudisill, founder of the group and a U.S. Airforce Vietnam-era veteran, watched the breaking news on the killer twister and saw what it did to families.
The two communities were the targets of the tornado’s wrath and Rudisill said she felt compelled to help.
She brought the idea to members of the group and asked what they thought about collecting needed supplies and assisting those left with nothing.
Before long, the veterans’ group was collecting cases of bottled water, holiday gifts, wrapped toys, new clothes, blankets, buckets, shovels, bleach, nonperishable food and more.
They also filled 300 backpacks with needed supplies.
A notice went out to its more than 3,000 members on social media and they, along with others, came through for the victims.
Some members went to Mayfield and others went to Bowling Green.
The drive to Kentucky was made on Dec. 20. Members of the group packed lunches for those who made the road trip.
Rudisill called it a “burn and turn,” because they traveled more than 450 miles to Bowling Green, 570 miles to Mayfield, dropped off the donations and then returned around and came back the next day.
She said she was horrified by the destruction she saw.
“It was just heartbreaking,” she said.
Out of all their members, only one questioned why they were focusing on a major endeavor to assist out-of-state residents.
Rudisill said victims are human beings no matter where they live and said the people, without question, need the help.
“I want that warm feeling in my heart,” she said.
About 600 people have been reported homeless, and businesses and homes were flattened for miles.
The group had planned to make another trip to the Kentucky cities, but when they discovered another nonprofit organization was already going, they pooled their donations and the other group made the trip.
The Downriver vets have now planned to take another trip at the end of February or early March.
They are asking residents to help the people of Bowling Green and Mayfield get on their feet by donating additional items.
This time, the veterans are looking to collect crock pots, dishes, pots, pans, towels, sheets, bedspreads and more.
Rudisill is confident once more people learn about what they are doing, there will be even more people willing to help.
“We have very good support,” Rudisill said. “Everybody knows where our money is going.”
Now that the natural disaster is out of the headlines, the founder is determined to make sure the people, who are still in need, are not forgotten over time.
Numerous coordinators of relief efforts approached her and the other Downriver travelers to thank them for not only thinking of them, but for putting a plan of action together and making the trip with supplies.
Anyone who would like to make a donation or keep up with the relief efforts can contact the group at 734-934-0532 or follow Downriver for Veterans on Facebook.