SIKESTON, Mo. — Sunday storms left behind damage in Sikeston. Crews of community members worked Monday to clean up downed trees and power lines. The city’s Department of Public Safety confirmed the death of one person in Sunday’s storm and spent Monday working to fully assess the damage.
Multiple people in the city faced power outages and were unsure when the power would be restored. That’s why John McHaffie and his congregation spent the Sunday evening and Monday morning helping those affected by the storms. He said though he hasn’t seen weather like this, he is stepping up to help those in need.
“I said, ‘I gotta step up,’ And so I made some calls, and said, we need to do something. There’s a giant need in our community. People are hungry,” he said.
Cars lined up outside of Sikeston First Assembly of God for a free hot lunch and disaster supplies. McHaffie said despite the church being without power, they wanted to help.
“It breaks my heart to see so many people- we have so many trees across roads and and the devastation. It breaks my heart because that’s somebody’s life, somebody’s home, somebody safe place that’s been disrupted. And so we need to as a community come beside them and say your life matters,” he said.
Volunteers from Sikeston’s Hope Center Ministries also wanted to lend a helping hand. Volunteer Gregg Pearson said his brothers jumped into action when they heard people needed help.
“You don’t have to know people to help them. You see a neighbor that needs help, you just help them,” Pearson said.
Partnering with Sikeston First Assembly of God, Pearson said it’s not how they envisioned to spend their Memorial Day, but he wouldn’t change a thing.
“It’s the least we can do, you know, just helping out. At Hope Center Ministries it’s all about brotherhood, and the brotherhood that we have together, you know, allows us to work together as a team in different tasks, you know, for the community. This is just one of those many task that we are accomplishing for a better goal,” he said.
Due to the damage and power outages, American Red Cross set up a shelter at the local YMCA. Leaders of the shelter said they will keep the resource until all needs are met. They have about 40 cots for those needing a place to sleep and showers.
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