The good people of Nappanee are at it again. This weekend they spent a lot of time helping others, something they do on a regular basis.
The benefit committee held its annual Share and Care auction Saturday to raise money for parochial schools as well as Open Door and the Family Christian Development Center, two of the charities that have been helping to feed the city’s unemployed. Nappanee residents donated many items to the auction to raise money for their friends and neighbors.
This type of outreach in Nappanee is nothing new. The auction was held one day before the second anniversary of the touchdown of a tornado that devastated the city. Back in 2007 a tornado with 165 mph winds began its destructive journey to Nappanee when it touched down at 12B Road and Gumwood Road west of Bourbon.
When the Weather Service issued a tornado warning for the city, residents scrambled to safety as best they could as the wind howled, trees cracked and debris flew. It was a true miracle that nobody in the city was killed by the storm. But many structures were destroyed or damaged.
The twister destroyed 51 homes and damaged 338 others. One-hundred and seven businesses were either damaged or destroyed.
In the wake of the massive loss, city residents quickly came together to help each other and begin the rebuilding process. Our federal government didn’t think too much of the disaster and the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied the city’s residents federal aid in the rebuilding process.
So, Nappanee residents just pulled together a little tighter and concentrated on one thing — restoring their wonderful city. Veterans groups held spaghetti suppers, charity bingo games raised funds and a couple produced a CD to add their effort to the collective quest for money to rebuild. And by pulling together the community was able to provide financial assistance to those who lost their homes or had their homes damaged.
Nappanee’s “do-it-ourselves” rebuilding effort is an example for all Americans. We should all look to Nappanee’s example of making a neighbor’s need our own priority in life when we consider how to help others.
Here on the second anniversary of the Nappanee tornado, the community continues to show us all how to be better neighbors and better human beings. Thank you, Nappanee.
