Morgan
County, TN -- A twisted path of destruction one mile wide distorts the otherwise
picturesque autumn-colored hills. Ten days have passed since the first of 13
tornadoes ripped through Tennessee, killing 17 people. With a goal of supporting
the efforts of the Morgan Scott Project to replensish depleted relief supplies
at the Morgan County disaster site, an Operation Blessing Hunger Strike Force
truck arrived onsite last Thursday.
Fifty miles northwest of Knoxville, Morgan County is a quiet rural area where
the world of cell phones dosen't exist and unemployment is rampant. Everybody
knows everybody. Last week its 18,000 residents lost nine of their own. A category
F3 tornado, with winds of 158-206 miles per hour, hit one of its hamlets, Mossy
Grove. Over 30 homes and dozens of vehicles were destroyed.
The Morgan Scott Project, a non-demoninational Christian Outreach, has been
helping individuals in Morgan County and surrounding areas for 30 years. Every
year this organization helps an average of 1,500 poverty stricken families.
When tragedy struck last week, director Jill Potter moved quickly led a small
team of volunteers in helping the local disaster relief team and the Mission
Center get needed supplies including blankets, food, kerosene heaters and first
aid items. Sadly, the inventory was soon depleted.
As word of the tragedy spread across the nation, more than sixty churches,
as well as Operation Blessing responded to this hurting area. Two Hunger Strike
Force trucks converged on Knoxville, Tennessee Thursday morning, combining their
loads of donated relief supplies. The supplies came from from partnering ministry,
The Lord's Storehouse in Bristol, Virginia and Operation Blessing's warehouse
in Nashville, Tennessee. Under the direction of Jill, Operation Blessing's driver
Herb Hicks delivered a truckload of water, blankets, work gloves, rain suits,
trash bags, bleach and other items to the Wartburg Civic Center where supplies
were being distributed.
Jill relates that as last week's shock wears off, the biggest need will be grief
counseling. Memorial services began last Friday. The physical and emotional
cleaning and rebuilding have only begun.
Please help Operation Blessing continue to help victims of disaster and hunger
in America and around the world.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.
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