A group of Jefferson residents were involved in the relief efforts for the Greenfield community in Adair County that is still recovering from the May 21st tornado.

Shirley Haupert tells Raccoon Valley Radio that she was contacted by an individual at the First United Methodist Church in Greenfield about bringing members of the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson that she was a part of to serve a meal to the community members and volunteers that are helping with recovery effort. Haupert says about 14 people went to Greenfield on Saturday, June 15th and served about 85 people.

Haupert talks about one story that her husband heard about a nurse at the local hospital in Greenfield getting home from work, right after the tornado went through the community and found what was left of her house, after it was leveled, and seeing her family in their driveway. She explains that the nurse’s husband and their two girls were in the basement the moment that the tornado went through their house.

“And at one point, it pulled all three up and the little girl’s arms were in the air and a wood piece, a debris, went through her arm. He (the husband) was able to get slammed down again and they all survived, but he (the husband) ended up breaking both of his legs with the force that had tossed him back down.”   

Haupert adds the entire experience, from listening to lots of stories to seeing the devastation first-hand, she was blessed to be fortunate to not have to endure the recent natural disasters that other parts of the state are seeing, but she was grateful to help those who are going through difficult times in some small way.