Helping the Helper

Operation Blessing responded to an EF 2 tornado that hit the town of Slidell, Louisiana. In the aftermath, its residents were reeling. Local resident, Dane said, “I've been in a close proximity of tornadoes before, but never inside of one. It was it was something else.”

The tornado left behind dangerous debris and damaged property. Dane is a Christian and a former marine who has been looking out for his community ever since he moved in. He said, “The neighbors here have become like family to me and this is a really cool community.”   

After the tornado, you made it possible for Operation Blessing’s disaster relief team to help the community.

Dane said “Operation Blessing came and they asked me if I knew anybody need help. And I was like, ‘Yeah, my neighbors.’ I said, 'you know, they need help. They need help. They need help.’”

Dane’s neighbor Joseph said,  “Operation Blessing came around. They helped me around the house, they brought water, they brought food, they brought other things.”

Dane’s neighbors then asked us to return to help him. Dane has a lung condition that has slowed him down, and it was difficult for him to clear his property of debris or fix his damaged fence. Thanks to you Operation Blessing provided lumber and tools and spent the day repairing his fence and cleaning up the yard. 

Dane gratefully said, “They really came through. They bought all of the material and actually helped me put my fence back together, stained my fence, re-concrete the posts. Saved me and my disabled brother from having to do it. That's just a real blessing, it really is.”