Joplin Relief Efforts

My dear friend Amy grew up in Joplin, Missouri.  She still has a brother that lives there (the tornado touched down one street over from his home-I think) and many wonderful friends.  After the news of the devastating tornado that swept through about a week ago, we couldn't just sit still and wait for things to get better.  Her brother told us that many of the now homeless citizens of Joplin were taking up quarters in the gymnasium of the local college.  Their basic needs of food and water, etc were being met.  But, the kids were going stir crazy with nothing to do.

Now that we can fix!!  We were scheduled to get together for our monthly lunch date--so we would just add a little service project to the fun.  Everyone brought what they could to make some play kits for the children.  It was awesome!!  We had jump ropes and matchbox cars and beach balls, and puzzles and playdough and card games and finger puppets and coloring books and crayons and lots and lots of other really fun stuff.  We were able to make over 100 play kits for the children!  We packed them up and sent them to Missouri with Amy's Dad.  Isn't it amazing what a handful of women hundreds of miles away can do when they put their minds to it?  And lunch was delicious too.  I have the best friends!!