Some people helping clean up tornado damage in Rogers and Mayes counties were affected themselves, but feel it’s important to help their neighbors.
Many of them are exhausted after spending days trying to repair their communities, but they won’t stop until they’re all back on their feet.
George Grossman, a Pryor resident, organized a group of more than 100 people to help clean up strangers’ pastures and yards.
He wanted to help both people and livestock that could be injured by the debris.
“When the fence collapsed, it took all the fencing for two miles,” Grossman said. “We knew we had to remove it all because if the fence remained, the animals would step on it and eat it.”
Grossman wants people to know they are cared for and that the community has their backs.
He has spent days trying to connect people in need with those who can help.
“There are lots of different ways you can help,” Grossman said. “A guy messaged me a while ago and said he had a 17-year-old son and a chainsaw, and he also knew a woman who needed help trimming her trees, so he told her that.”
People are also helping feed everyone who stops by, handing out meals, snacks and water.
“We have people who donate food and money, and half the people who come for breakfast stay there all day and cook,” Allison Dietzfeld said. “It’s grown into a big operation and they do a great job of managing it and continuing it every day.”
They say it’s “the Oklahoma way” to look out for your neighbors, even when you’re having your own bad day.
“They’re trying to find the light and what they can do to be a light for all the people here,” Dietzfeld said. “I think it takes a lot of dedication. If they weren’t affected this time they could just go on with their daily lives, but they’re choosing to go day by day. They’re here at 6 in the morning and they’re staying here to feed the power line workers who leave at 10.”
Meals on Wheels is accepting donations of food, water and money, which will be delivered to Shipman Animal Hospital on Highway 20.
For the time being, the group will provide meals from Shipman Animal Hospital.
Grossman said the best way to get help is to reach out through Facebook.
