Dear Editor,
I want to give a big "thank you" to the many people who volunteered their time to help the families affected by the tornado. I am going to mention the ones I know of, but I know there were many more.
On Thursday night, my brother-in-law's house was completely destroyed, losing everything. My mother-in-law had trees down all over her yard with two on top of her house. My father-in-law had his roof completely torn off and numerous trees down in his yard. The Southern Baptist Convention's Disaster Relief Clean-Up & Recovery Unit came in and cleaned up the yards, cutting trees, piling limbs and putting tarps on the roof. Someone came up to my brother-in-law and gave him a $500 check. Someone else gave him a $50 Bi-Lo gift card. Andy Collins, pastor of Sharon Baptist, called me to ask how they can help Dennis. They are going to donate clothes and gift cards to him. John Prater, pastor of Marshall Baptist, asked how our church can help.
Thanks to the Kilpatrick Association's Disaster Relief Team Feeding Unit for feeding the Emergency Response workers and volunteers.
I want to especially thank one of our Thomson City Policeman, Scott Whittle. I know that he worked all night Thursday night and all day Friday with absolutely no sleep. Then Saturday afternoon he came to my mother-in-law's to help clean up her yard. I am sure that he was not the only emergency response worker who worked all night and all day with little or no sleep. Thanks guys and girls.
Last, but certainly not least, thanks to Andrew Harding, of Harding Landscape. Here is a young man who owns his own landscape company and is also a fulltime student at Georgia Southern University. He rented a Bobcat and spent Friday and Saturday moving yard debris and pulling stumps, all at his own expense. Thanks Andrew! Go Eagles!
Thank you to everyone around our community and state who worked during this tragedy to help our friends and family. God has used this disaster to show us what a church family is all about. I have seen people from different denominations and different congregations volunteering their time to help others. This is what God has called Christians to do.
DeWayne Poss
