Route 66 Cares, an offshoot of the Route 66 Chamber of Commerce, on Sunday distributed more than $1,500 from donations and fundraisers to the tornado-ravaged towns of Quapaw, Oklahoma, and Baxter Springs, Kansas.
The Red Ball Bar & Grill in Baxter Springs provided especially stout support. A benefit pancake breakfast raised almost $750.
The first check presentation of $1,265 by Ron Hart was made to the First Assembly of God Church in Baxter Springs. Route 66 Cares explains why the church was a more-than-deserving recipient:
Within hours after part of Baxter Springs was destroyed, Pastor Dallas Satterfield and his congregation had set-up a kitchen that would serve over 5000 hot meals the first week….breakfast, lunch and dinners, and on Tuesday, April 29th., served over 1,100 meals! As of May 15th., they had cooked, served and also delivered over 6,150 meals at no charge to the storms victims, volunteers, first responders, city & county workers, utility workers and more.
The congregation members also unloaded a “Convoy of Hope” semi-trailer full of donated supplies and distributed it to where it was most needed. Their volunteers also drove the damaged areas handing-out work gloves, meals and water every day.
The church also provided shelter in their auditorium for some storm victims, out-of-area volunteer workers and the “Poured-Out” Ministries from Michigan who arrived with heavy equipment to clear debris, and who will continue their work until all demolished homesites have been cleared.
The church has incurred a lot of expenses because of its disaster relief. Hart also said the church sent donations and volunteers to nearby Joplin, Missouri, when it was struck by a massive tornado in 2011.
Route 66 Cares also gave a $250 check to the Quapaw Fire Department, which suffered extensive damage to its firehouse. Fortunately, the department is well-insured, and Hart said the department should move back into the repair firehouse within three months or so.
If you want to donate, checks may be mailed to: Route 66 Cares, c/o Baxter Springs Chamber of Commerce, 1004 Military Ave., Baxter Springs, KS 66713. One may also use the Chamber’s PayPal account to send money to visit66(at)yahoo(dot)com and using “Route 66 Cares” in the memo.
(Images courtesy of Ron Hart)