Tornado Disaster in Joplin, MO: AASR Needs Volunteers

Calling southwest Missouri-area Masons.

The Joplin Valley Scottish Rite needs help in their kitchen to cook and deliver meals for the tornado victims and the relief and rescue workers, Thursday and Friday 7 am-11 am, and 11 am-3 pm. Contact Tom Berger 417-781-1605 or the Valley office at 417-623-3719 to volunteer.

Brother Don Huggins in Kansas City reports:

"They could also use some more food, cleaning supplies, help keeping the Temple clean, etc. They are working their rear ends off feeding people. The KC Valley is getting a supply delivery ready but tornados in the KC area this afternoon have slowed us down a little. Please make sure to coordinate your arrival and not just "show up" unexpectedly . . .

"There is no electricity, water, etc so if someone arrives expecting to be fed, housed, etc they will further burden the system . . . ATMs, gasoline, food, bottled water, cash, are scarce. The motels, college dorms, etc are full of emergency workers and victims so it is critical to coordinate with the Joplin Valley to make sure they can fit you in for sleeping . This will be a long term project because it will take a long time to clean up which has not really started. They are still looking for injured and missing people.

"The Temple in Joplin will need not only cooks but also someone to clean the bathrooms, floors, repair anything that breaks like toilets or kitchen equipment, and eventually when this is all over to get the building back in shape."

The Valley of Joplin Scottish Rite Masonic Center is located at 505 S. Byers Ave.

Also, click here for a message from the Grand Master of Missouri AF&AM, M:.W:. Gail S. Turner, regarding disaster relief. Donations may be made payable to the Grand Lodge of Missouri with the notation "Joplin area disaster relief".