Every Bit Counts

On May 22nd of this year, a stream of disastrous tornados drove through cities in my home-state of Missouri, ruining wildlife, homes and lives. The city of Joplin was hit drastically, crumbling most of the area. From the moment this storm occurred, aid has been a necessity.

Now, six weeks later, although there have been repairs, aid has not stopped it steady stream. People around the state and even country have come together to help with relief efforts. I was so proud of the community I saw and still see today.

One of my best friends drives to Joplin every Tuesdays to volunteer and grab footage of the city for news segments. Businesses around the St. Louis area have donated money, food and belongings to the cause. Even local celebrities and athletes have visited Joplin and urged for more support.

Children are even becoming part of the cause. A day camp at the community center where I work has had numerous events to raise funds, from car washes to a special day at camp called Jumping for Joplin. This required the campers to jump rope for the entirety of their camp day. They had at least one person jumping rope at a time and searched for donators to help their case.

I am interested to see what classrooms will be doing in the fall to help support Joplin. In my future classroom, I plan on incorporating community service every chance I get. It is vital to teach children compassion and show them how to spread hope to others.

Want to help Joplin?

There are many ways to get involved! Below are just a few.

• Plant a tree in Missouri. It's completely free! Just put your email address in, choose your state and there you go! 
• Text "Joplin" to 80888 to make a $10 donation.
• Donate to the Salvation Army.
• Come up with your own interesting fundraisers! They can range anywhere from car washes to donation nights at a local restaurant, where a percentage of the purchases will be donated to the cause of your choice.