Photos courtesy of Shawn Clone
MORTON, ILL – One day after a series of tornadoes ravaged parts of the upper Midwest, members of the community and the SPHL hockey family began the process of lending aid rebuilding in the areas hardest hit by the storms.
Christopher Bill spent the day after the tornadoes struck on the front-lines of the recovery effort. His family had spent a night without power just a few miles down the road in Morton, IL. With school cancelled for the day, Bill, age 14 and in the eighth grade at Morton Junior High School, joined with two dozen others from a youth group at the Morton United Methodist Church in the recovery effort.
As the van full of helping hand and a pickup truck full of tools was sent through a police roadblock into the affected area, it became very apparent just what the wrath of Mother Nature had wrought.
“We knew we were close when we started to see debris.There were shingles, lots of shingles and big pieces wood – construction (lumber),” Bill, son of Pro Hockey News’ Shaun Bill, said about the scene. “(It was) pure devistation.”
The twenty-five spent the better part of the day working at Crossroads United Methodist Church, which is serving as a Red Cross Relief Center and Staging Area. Inside, hallways full of clothing were sorted by volunteers while others served hot meals to first responders and rescue workers. Outside of Crossroads UMC, subdivision streets were now barren; houses, trees and vehicles swept away.
Out in the yard, the kids began the arduous task of cleanup – one square foot of ground at a time. Rake it up, scoop it into a wheelbarrow, dump it into a pickup truck and do it again. Their work netted fiberglass insulation, pieces of 2×4 wood framing, shingles, clothing, a Barbie Doll head and a crushed iPad. Beside them in the debris field stood the church, unscathed except for a single piece of lumber piercing the roof.
All around them, utility crews worked to make safe power and gas lines. Overhead, Air Force C-130′s circled overhead, surveying the destruction. Additionally, the Governor of Illinois toured the area by air. When he landed, he officially declared Tazewell and Woodford counties, disaster areas.
While hundreds of volunteers were beginning the task of physically cleaning up, the Peoria Rivermen were making plans for how they, their fans and the extended SPHL family could assist in the rebuilding process. Late in the day, the team and the league announced how they would help via a press release:
The Peoria Rivermen organization would like to extend its heartfelt thoughts and prayers to those affected by Sunday’s horrific storms in central Illinois. Many Rivermen fans lost their homes in both Pekin and Washington, and will be starting over in the rebuilding process in the coming weeks and months.
In support of the recovery process, the Rivermen pledge to do their part over the next several weeks and months to help raise funds for those affected in many of the hard hit areas. In addition, Friday, Dec. 20 has been designated “Central Illinois STRONG Night” against the Bloomington Thunder.
This weekend, the Rivermen encourage all fans in attendance to donate any amount possible to the local American Red Cross when they take on the Pensacola Ice Flyers Thursday, Nov. 21 through Saturday, Nov. 23 at 7:15 p.m. Each night, all entrances to Carver Arena will include donation buckets and anyone who donates will receive a FREE upper bowl ticket worth $12 to the Dec. 20 game.
Furthermore, OT Sports, “The Official Jersey Supplier to the SPHL,” will be designing special Rivermen jerseys for Dec. 20 that will be auctioned off live following the game. 100% of all proceeds from that auction will be donated to the local American Red Cross to benefit families in central Illinois.
“By talking to those on the ground and those agencies helping out, they have told us that the easiest and best way to get help and resources to those in need is through financial donations,” Rivermen co-owner Bart Rogers said. ”In times of need, it’s refreshing to see so many people instantly step forward to help in the area. As soon as it’s safe to assist in the clean-up, our players, coaches and staff will be on the ground side-by-side working to help get life back to normal.”
“We ask all sports fans across our area, and fans of other SPHL teams, to step forward and make a monetary donation to help our local cause. As other needs arise down the road, we will adjust and continue to help assist where our organization can.”
To donate directly to the local American Red Cross online, please visit https://www.redcross.org/donate/index.jsp?donateStep=2&itemId=prod10002. Fans can also donate by phone by calling 1-800-REDCROSS and specifying that your donation go directly to the Central Illinois Tornado Relief.
To view the Washington, IL tornado relief Facebook page, visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Washington-IL-Tornado-Recovery/361545887315736.
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