Volunteer organizations work together, focus on long-term recovery needs for Mayfield, Graves tornado victims
A group of local volunteer organizations has come together to help address immediate and long-term needs for Mayfield and Graves County. The group’s aim is to be a unified community contact for resources and information.
In late January, the Mayfield/Graves County Long Term Recovery Group (M/G LTRG), composed of local civic organizations, churches, disaster response agencies, businesses and individuals, formed with the purpose of working with community, state and national agencies, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse, Catholic Charities and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).
These partnerships will work to consolidate and coordinate efforts to assist residents who are rebuilding and recovering physically, financially, mentally and spiritually following the Dec. 10 tornado that claimed 22 lives and destroyed 380 local homes and businesses.
According to the M/G LTRG, the purpose is to walk together with those impacted by the tornado through the recovery process.
“The amount of disaster that hit our great community on December 10 will be felt for generations. However, I truly believe the amount of support available and countless resources coming into our community will make an even greater impact on future generations,” said Bro. Al Chandler, Northside Baptist Church pastor and chairman for the M/G LTRG Executive Board.
“The organizations and local leaders getting involved in the recovery group will be the funnel that will make our community stronger than it was before December 10,” he added. “I cannot wait to see what Mayfield and Graves County will look like for my grandchildren.”
The LTRG’s executive board is also comprised of vice-chair and First United Methodist pastor Rev. Joey Reed and treasurer Reanna Olive, as well as chairs of seven LTRG sub-committees. Those sub-committees and their chairs include Case Management (Heather Nesler), Communications (Eric Walker), Construction (Dr. Mike Baker), Crisis Counseling (Dr. Milton West), Finance/Donations (Steven Elder), Unmet Needs (Shawn Thompson), and Volunteer Coordination (Allen Davidson).
Also serving on the executive board are three at-large community representatives. They include Reed, Olive and Jorge Bartolo, as well as FEMA’s Lilly Velazquez who serves as a volunteer agency liaison.
The group’s website (www.recovermayfieldgraves.com) will be for residents’ needs assessments and also collecting information on volunteer and donation resources. Needs assessments would be directed toward various LTRG committees to provide additional assistance.
Volunteer and donation resources would also be directed to areas for support and help.
For more information, visit the RecoverMayfieldGraves website.