Spring Break Trip to Assist With Harrisburg Cleanup

Published: April 13, 2021

This past week, a group of Greenville College students, faculty and staff, graciously gave up their spring break to travel to Harrisburg, IL, to assist with cleanup from the recent tornado that ripped through the area. The group worked with an organization called Operation Blessing, and was able to assist with a variety of different projects. They worked on debris removal, by going through houses that had been destroyed and sorting through everything that remained (looking for photos and keepsakes to save for the families) and preparing the houses to be bulldozed.

The group also helped out at the distribution center, which was temporarily set up to help families who had lost everything. Families could come to the center to get basic daily supplies (everything from shampoo, toothpaste, food, clothing, etc.) One of the main projects for the group was the rehabilitation of a trailer for a woman and her daughter that were the sole survivors of an apartment complex that had been destroyed in the tornado. The trailer was donated to them to stay in while they rebuilt, but was in poor shape. So the group worked on it by gutting it, laying new floor, cleaning and painting.

Current student, Miranda Caulkins, shared a bit about her experience and how she was impacted by the trip. She mentioned that Matthew 6:19 struck her hard, as she began to focus on our dependence on material comforts as opposed to Christ. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal....or (in her words) where tornadoes come in the middle of the night and tear them away."

She also mentioned that she loved connecting with other volunteers. For the most part, Miranda pointed out that the Greenville College group went to help without even knowing each other very well. They were able to engage in deep conversations and work alongside new friends. They also met other volunteers that came from all over the United States. They were able to share stories and shared unique bonds because of their love of Christ and the fact that they were all called through Christ to respond to Harrisburg's needs.