A group of volunteers are headed back to Moore, OK, to help
some of the youngest survivors heal after a tornado killed seven of their
classmates.
They are offering a safe, welcoming place for those
survivors to share their stories.
The organization is called Hope Raisers. It started as a way
to help the victims of the Joplin, MO, tornado deal with the loss of loved ones
and property.
Kansas City volunteers and Joplin tornado survivors decided
they wanted to offer the same hope to the survivors in Moore.
Stephanie Tillman founded the organization, which not only
donates T-shirts but offers a safe place filled with willing listeners.
A Plaza Towers Elementary student used a Hope Raisers
T-shirt to write a letter to his teacher.
"Her student that she protected and saved his life, he
was the very first child to come into the tent," September Trible said.
"It said 'thank you Mrs. Marinelli for saving for my life.' He did hearts
all over the bottom, and it said ‘Mrs. Marinelli you rock.'"
Many students who survived the tornado inside Plaza Towers
are struggling to comprehend what happened. Something as simple as giving them
a T-shirt and art supplies can begin the grieving process.
"When they sit down with this T-shirt and they have
this safe quiet place to talk about it if they want to or to just draw, it
starts coming out. You start hearing for the first time, 'I survived,'"
Trible said. "The T-shirts are just a window into the healing and the
steps of hope.
Joplin tornado victims are now volunteering with Tillman in
Moore. One survivor who lost her husband and daughter met a man who lost his
child.
"Walking up to him at the moment at his dark moment and
just being somebody to stand next to him and cry with him and say, 'I understand
your pain, that's what provided him hope for that day,'" Tillman said.
Some families are coming back day after day for their daily
dose of hope and a chance to share their story, including a little girl named
Zoey, who was overwhelmed when Hope Raisers brought in Astroturf for the
children.
"She puts her foot on the Astroturf. She touches it and
she says, 'Oh my gosh, flooring. Real life flooring.' And throws herself on the
ground and starts doing snow angels. She just starts rolling, rolling and rolling,"
Tillman said.
The Hope Raisers say moments of happiness can help hope
spread and reduce fear.
"The parents are saying this is the first time my child
didn't have a nightmare last night. That is amazing," Trible said
Click here for more information on how to volunteer or
donate to Hope Raisers by purchasing a T-shirt.
Those T-shirts say, "Pray Moore. Love Moore. Hope
Moore."
