Rotarians Respond Again to Needs from May Tornado -- Now in Reading, Kansas

 

The trees and brush threatened a bridge over Mud Creek.  Workers dragged branches and tree trunks from the river bank onto the field, where they were cut with chainsaws or log splitters to  make firewood for the community.  Branches and other debris  were stacked to be burned. 

 

"After our work in Joplin, Kelly Wolfert (Overland Park South) and I felt the need to help in tornado torn Reading, Kansas which is within our district boundaries, about a two hour drive from Kansas City," said Joni Pflumm, Shawnee Rotarian.  In June, a group of Kansas City area Rotarians restored a public 

park in Joplin. 

 

Joining the Rotarians were volunteers from Heart to Heart International with a mobile health unit on site for unexpected injuries. With their medical staff they provided  general medical checkups, laboratory and flu vaccines for Reading residents. Also joining the team were District 5710 Youth Exchange Students from Taiwan, Chile, Switzerland, Belgium and Romania. 

 

At the end of the day, approximately 300 yards of the creek channel were cleared, resulting in 12 cords of firewood for the residents of Reading and 

several large piles of brush, that were burned. As the group was packing up its gear, a resident who lost her home in the tornado, Sonya Parker, came to 

pick up some firewood – several of the volunteers stayed to load her truck. 

 

Barbara Schlobohm, a member of the Reading Long Term Recovery Committee, summed it up in a note to the organizers. 

"What an absolute shock to see how much was accomplished! Thank you, thank you, for organizing this project – it was desperately needed".  

  

The Rotarians who traveled to Reading came from Clubs in Rotary District 5710 in eastern Kansas: Lenexa, Shawnee, Overland Park South, Johnson County-Sunset, DeSoto, Gardner, Emporia, Topeka South, Leavenworth, Garnett and Manhattan Konza.  Lunch for the volunteers was provided by Oklahoma Joes, Olathe, Kansas District 5710 members want to return to Reading in the spring to help with the restoration and landscaping of its city park. 

 

 On behalf of Rotary District 5710, I want to thank all of you for getting involved in helping the people of Reading, Kansas.  As Rotarians and friends, we pride ourselves in being able to touch the hearts of humankind—one person at a time. Reading, KS was almost totally wiped out by tornadoes, but the 

people are coming back, despite the hammer of misfortune.  To a large degree, this small community devastation was somewhat overshadowed and forgotten by the limelight received by the tragedy in Joplin, MO. Each one of you , if you were there in person or in intent, contributed to the wellbeing and future of hope for the people of  Reading.  To all the leaders and organizers, be proud of yourselves.  We are thankful that you chose to come to the fore on this occasion. 

I am sure that we will be back in Reading in the spring to spurn their situation and give the people a renewed appreciation of the good in their neighborhood and a future of renewal. This was a true District wide response that brought many clubs, Rotarians and friends together in our District and allowed us to 

realize that we can be Bigger, Bolder, and Better. Reaching within to embrace Humankind is what it is all about.

 

DG John Vandewalle