MISSION OF COMPASSION
“I have been fascinated with storms and tornadoes since I was five years old” says storm chaser Jeff Smith when asked about his passion for severe weather. Jeff has been active in Skywarn for over 15 years, and is a media chaser for KJRH-channel 2 in Tulsa, Okla. With the combination of seeing the destruction and devastation that severe weather leaves behind and a compassionate heart, Jeff has always wanted to help disaster victims in practical ways. Jeff’s dream finally came true in 2005.
In 2005, Jeff partnered up with best friend Mike Borrell and formed Mission of Compassion. Mission of Compassion is a ministry that collects donations, packs up within days after a natural disaster and delivers relief supplies to affected areas. The day that hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005 they embarked on the first Mission of Compassion and brought relief supplies, cleaning goods, water, Bibles, and teddy bears to evacuees living in shelters in Alexandria, La. They since have been to Dumas, Ark. (F-3 tornado), Coffeyville Kansas (2007 floods), Northeastern Arkansas (2008 Super Tuesday Outbreak), and the Picher, Ok.-Seneca, Mo. area. (May 2008 EF-4 long track tornado).
Our most recent trip was to Lone Grove, Oklahoma, a small community near Ardmore. On February 10, 2009, a violent EF-4 tornado ripped through Lone Grove after dark. Sadly, nine people lost their lives. We delivered PowerAde, snacks, non perishable food, trash bags for cleanup, and much more in two trucks and a trailer! We were able to help out by delivering these supplies to the Lone Grove Assembly of God, and the Lone Grove Church of Christ.
Many have asked why not just let the Red Cross handle these situations? While the Red Cross is an amazing organization that has helped millions of storm victims, they get overwhelmed at times and cannot be everywhere at one time. That is why we concentrate on helping smaller churches and organizations that are helping in the community and acting as shelters and may not have benefitted from Red Cross assistance yet, and go directly to them. There has always been a place for us to help out, no matter where we have been.
Our vision for the future includes procuring a truck & trailer equipped with a Bobcat tractor so we can immediately dispatch a team to a disaster scene in order to help clear roads/driveways etc. We also are looking to form multiple teams in order to be more effective. Please pray for us as we continue in our service. For more information on Mission of Compassion please contact Jeff at Stormrider1970@gmail.com
“I have been fascinated with storms and tornadoes since I was five years old” says storm chaser Jeff Smith when asked about his passion for severe weather. Jeff has been active in Skywarn for over 15 years, and is a media chaser for KJRH-channel 2 in Tulsa, Okla. With the combination of seeing the destruction and devastation that severe weather leaves behind and a compassionate heart, Jeff has always wanted to help disaster victims in practical ways. Jeff’s dream finally came true in 2005.
In 2005, Jeff partnered up with best friend Mike Borrell and formed Mission of Compassion. Mission of Compassion is a ministry that collects donations, packs up within days after a natural disaster and delivers relief supplies to affected areas. The day that hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005 they embarked on the first Mission of Compassion and brought relief supplies, cleaning goods, water, Bibles, and teddy bears to evacuees living in shelters in Alexandria, La. They since have been to Dumas, Ark. (F-3 tornado), Coffeyville Kansas (2007 floods), Northeastern Arkansas (2008 Super Tuesday Outbreak), and the Picher, Ok.-Seneca, Mo. area. (May 2008 EF-4 long track tornado).
Our most recent trip was to Lone Grove, Oklahoma, a small community near Ardmore. On February 10, 2009, a violent EF-4 tornado ripped through Lone Grove after dark. Sadly, nine people lost their lives. We delivered PowerAde, snacks, non perishable food, trash bags for cleanup, and much more in two trucks and a trailer! We were able to help out by delivering these supplies to the Lone Grove Assembly of God, and the Lone Grove Church of Christ.
Many have asked why not just let the Red Cross handle these situations? While the Red Cross is an amazing organization that has helped millions of storm victims, they get overwhelmed at times and cannot be everywhere at one time. That is why we concentrate on helping smaller churches and organizations that are helping in the community and acting as shelters and may not have benefitted from Red Cross assistance yet, and go directly to them. There has always been a place for us to help out, no matter where we have been.
Our vision for the future includes procuring a truck & trailer equipped with a Bobcat tractor so we can immediately dispatch a team to a disaster scene in order to help clear roads/driveways etc. We also are looking to form multiple teams in order to be more effective. Please pray for us as we continue in our service. For more information on Mission of Compassion please contact Jeff at Stormrider1970@gmail.com
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