Legion Family helps communities following deadly tornadoes

In the aftermath of a tornado that damaged hundreds of homes and left many without power, American Legion Post 230 in Martinsville, Ind., leapt into action.

“(We) decided that these people that are putting up the power lines and getting service back restored might need some food and water,” said John McGee, past commander of Post 230. “We came in yesterday and we fed a lot of people in town who didn’t have power, didn’t have a way to fix a meal.”

The National Weather Service reported 22 tornadoes hit Indiana on March 31 and April 1. Five people died in the storms.

It’s part of an already active spring storm season that has seen deadly tornadoes reported in Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Delaware and Missouri since March 24.

Here’s a look at some of the other ways the Legion Family has helped those affected by the storms:

Arkansas

-Post 91 in Beebe collected two bins full of food and supplies to help those in Wynne, where at least four people died and the town’s high school was among the heavily damaged buildings.

-Post 17 in Paragould was also collecting donated supplies for the Wynne community.

Mississippi

Post 255 in Fultondale, Ala., collected donations to help tornado victims in nearby Mississippi.

If your post is providing assistance to victims of the tornadoes or other natural disasters, please let us know by emailing wproffet@legion.org.