2025aprilcurrent

TORNADO DAMAGE AND RESPONSE

Neoga STRONG for Kids United Methodists open doors of church, meet the community’s needs following March 14 tornado

children attended the initial day of day camp. That number grew to 40 on March 21 with 53 different children attending at least once. “Because the needs of caring for the children vary from household to household, not all children attended every day,” St. Michael explained. “But a good number of them did.” The day’s activities begin with breakfast and various stations are set up around the church with a variety of activities for them to do after eating. Community members come in after lunch and provide various activities for the children. On March 21, Kristi Shirley from Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom, visited with the children and talked with them about the watershed of an area and how it is affected by humans. Agriculture in the Classroom is part of the Illinois Farm Bureau’s working partnership between the agriculture community, agribusiness and agricultural education providing Illinois educators and students with resources that help them understand the role of a vital agriculture sector in their lives and society. Shirley was a familiar face to students as Agriculture in the Classroom is part of the students’ classroom curriculum. After the lesson, Smith gathered the students to talk about the importance of community. She shared with them about how Grace UMC helped the community with an outdoor food pantry stocked with non-perishables

BY PAUL BLACK NEOGA — When a disaster struck the Cumberland County community of Neoga, members of Grace United Methodist Church knew there was a part to play in the community’s recovery effort. An EF-2 tornado that tore through Neoga March 14 damaged the community’s schools, causing classes to be cancelled for more than a week. But the cancellation of classes became an opportunity to organize and execute a day camp program for students from kindergarten to fifth grade completely manned by volunteers. The tornado damage made part of the junior/senior high school structurally unsafe and the roof of the elementary school was also damaged. Melinda White, a member of Grace UMC, had an idea. She shared her idea with others and the wheels were set in motion for the day camp. “We quickly gathered people and we started putting together the fact we wanted to do more than just feed the children,” said volunteer Carol Smith, who along with church pastor, Cameron St. Michael, had become media spokespersons for the church. “We wanted to keep them (for the day) and our schedule is fluid because our numbers are changing from day to day and there is not a lot of time to prepare.” Opening the churches’ doors on March 17, 18

where persons can help themselves to what they need. Using the pantry’s staples of peanut butter, jelly and macaroni and cheese, students took the food items and restocked the pantry in the church parking lot. Church member Rhonda Whitaker shared with the children how the church began this ministry and the important part it played for persons who are in need. In the afternoon, retired Mattoon teacher Michelle Englund presented a lesson on reptiles. The culminating activity was a turtle race. Kids were also served an ice cream sundae bar by members of the Salem UMC in Toledo. Other programs during the week included an art project with a lesson on artist Vincent Van Gogh by Kim Varner, a visit from Lake Land College’s team mascot Laker Louie with every child receiving a copy of a book, High Fives for Laker Louie from the author, Lisa Shumard Shelton. Retired teachers have also stopped by and read to the children. For its last two days on March 24-25, students were

urged to wear their favorite sports-themed clothing in honor of March Madness and baseball's opening week on Monday and to wear red (the school’s colors) on Tuesday. It has been a community effort, however. St. Michael said that the community and the area has responded, providing the resources needed to make the day camp a success. Central Roofing LLC brought Casey’s Pizza for lunch on March 21. St. Michael said that at the beginning of daycamp, they presented the church with a check to help finance the meals. “They told me if that isn’t enough, we can give you more,” he said. Varner and Rawlings Heating & Air Conditioning provided donuts and fruit March 20, which the church reported, “were devoured very quickly!” On March 19, a farmers' breakfast was prepared by Julie Williamson of the Neoga Presbyterian Church and a crew of "sous chefs" comprised of some of the church’s volunteers. Biscuits and sausage were provided by Mike, Rick and Teresa Walk, while Jeri from Effingham Dairy Queen brought the gravy. Farm fresh eggs were courtesy of Barry Williamson.

Chris and Brenda Stone donated cinnamon rolls and Julie Altman provided a rainbow art snack. Smith said it is a matter of God directing the church. “It’s in God’s hands. You have a disaster and the community comes together and we do what God tells us to do.” “We have had so many people who want to help.” White said. “Our needs have been met and we are so very blessed and grateful.” Neoga Superintendent Kevin Haarman said he hopes to bring students back on Wednesday, March 26. “High school students will now resume instruction at the Neoga Community Center which previously served as our elementary school. These extra school closure days will be classified as Act of God days and will not need to be made up,” he said. Even as these plans are subject to change, St. Michael said the church will follow the school’s lead. “We are here (with the day camp) for as long as the community needs it,” he said. “It has been a wonderful demonstration of what God can do when we are willing to be available and do what we can do.”

Photos by Paul Black and courtesy of Neoga Grace UMC

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