Christian Aid Ministries, Amish, Mennonite, and others join in tornado clean-up

Don Reid, Coldwater Daily Reporter
·2 min read

SHERWOOD TWP. — By Saturday morning, only the most damaged or destroyed homes and buildings remained waiting for insurance adjustors to document the damage of a double vortex tornado that tore a half-mile-wide swath along Arney and Dunks roads.

Owners, friends, and volunteers rallied, their collective efforts evident in the large piles of downed trees and brush cleared from around houses and roadsides.

Amish and Mennonite church members came with equipment to quickly clear trees and debris left by the May 7 tornado in Sherwood Township.
Amish and Mennonite church members came with equipment to quickly clear trees and debris left by the May 7 tornado in Sherwood Township.

The extent of damage to the nine destroyed homes, four with major damage and 24 with minor damage was clearly visible without downed trees surrounding them.

Thursday and Friday, over 30 volunteers from the Christian Aid Ministries Rapid Response Team of Indiana appeared with chainsaws, skid steers, and safety equipment. They cut away the twisted downed trees surrounding damaged or destroyed homes.

The volunteer group consisted of Amish, Mennonite, and other conservative Anabaptist individuals from Shipshewana, Indiana, and the New Paris area, Ohio.

Supervisor Tim Miller explained, "It's the way that we can reach out and share our faith. It's all about God. It's about what Jesus has done for us."

Women raked yards. The men cut the trees and brush, piling them away from houses so the wood could be burned or used this winter.

The Christian Aid Ministries Rapid Response Team of Indiana brought in volunteers and equipment for storm damage removal.
The Christian Aid Ministries Rapid Response Team of Indiana brought in volunteers and equipment for storm damage removal.

Miller said, "Because Jesus made it clear that if his love is in our heart, it's going to come out in our lives, and it's got to come out in our works."

Homeowner Jacob Smith was thankful for their help. The volunteers put tarps over his damaged roof and spent two days cutting away the trees, which made it almost impossible for him, his wife, and their two children to get in and out of their home.

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The young men and women from the response teams completed so much work in two days that plans to bring more volunteers on Saturday were not necessary. 

— Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Amish, Mennonite, and others help with Sherwood tornado clean-up