Christiana Lions Headed To Joplin

The handmade quilt created by local crafters to raise money for Joplin, MO. tornado victims is unfurled at Monday evening's school board meeting.

By Magdalena Stuehrmann

On May 22, 2011, at about 6 o’clock in the evening, a massive tornado tore a devastating path through the town of Joplin, Missouri. 

St. John’s Regional Medical Center, a major hospital located in Joplin, was so badly damaged by the tornado that it could not be used to receive the injured in the aftermath, and patients and staff were forced to evacuate the hospital. 

Early reports estimated that about 40 people had been killed, and many more were left homeless after the tornado destroyed homes and apartment buildings throughout the town.

In the aftermath of the tornado, reconstruction efforts began to try to restore the town to its original, livable condition. Two months later, however, the job is not complete and the town and its citizens are still struggling to rebuild.

Organizations from across the country have sent teams to the area to assist in the effort. Among these organizations is Lions Club International and a team from a Lancaster branch of the Lions Club.

Mr. Jim Groff, the president of the Christiana Lions Club, is leaving today to go to Joplin Missouri to assist the Lancaster team that is already there. As he told the Octorara School Board at their meeting on July 11^th, he has already received much support from local organizations and individuals as our community reaches out to the citizens of Joplin. 

Members of the community created a beautiful, traditional Lancaster area hanging quilt (pictured above) for Mr. Groff to allow members of the community to sign for a donation of at least 5 dollars to shop their support to the citizens of Joplin. 

Mr. Groff brought this quilt to the board meeting to make more members of the community aware of the effort that was being made and give them the opportunity to show their support. 

The local group, the Chester County Foodbank also gave Mr. Groff two skid loads of survivor kits to take with him on his trip to Joplin for him to distribute to the residents.

Mr. Groff is leaving today and is planning to be back around July 24^th. 

We wish him and the residents of Joplin the best of luck with their rebuilding efforts and hope that Joplin will soon be back to normal.