After an EF4 tornado leveled the small town of Rolling Fork, Mississippi, on March 24, 2023 it hopscotched across other cities in Sharkey County, plus Carroll, Humphreys, and Monroe counties. The tornado began near Rolling Fork and moved 30 miles northeast through Silver City and traveled into Amory, Mississippi.
Rolling Fork, MS/ Silver City, MS – Rising Star SDA Church distribution center started the day after the tornado – Saturday, March 25, 2023.
Amory, MS – West Amory SDA Church distribution center operation started Monday, March 27, 2023.
Both disaster operations will continue through July 2023.
Many citizens have expressed their gratitude for what we have been doing in Rolling Fork. They are grateful to see a church that is helping people during their time of need. Many times people have exclaimed, “You all just don’t know how much of a help you all are!” There have also been many who we have prayed with after hearing their stories of loss and the tears that have accompanied. It will take so long to rebuild but we are here for the long haul, the response, recovery and the restoration. We are so grateful for ACS, the surrounding Adventist churches, and other partners and agencies who have assisted us in helping the city of Rolling Fork. – Pastor Shannon Crawford (Rolling Fork, MS – Rising Star)
The clients we are serving are very appreciative of what we are doing here in Amory, Mississippi. We had one lady who stopped by our distribution site and stated, “I pass by here every day and see how hard you all are working. I would like to pay for lunch for each one of you.” Others have expressed they don’t know what they would have done if we were not here providing the basic supplies that they desperately need. – Lester Armstrong (Amory, MS ACS DR Distribution Manager)
Statistics
Amory, Mississippi ACS Distribution Center
Number of families served: 2,433
Number of volunteers: 397
Number of volunteer hours: 1,545
Rolling Fork, Mississippi/Silver City, Mississippi ACS Distribution Center
Number of families served: 1,782
Number of volunteers: 203
Number of volunteer hours: 974
The value of supplies distributed for both disaster operations: $64,619.00