JOPLIN, Mo. —
For a group of residents from Pennsylvania, summer vacation has meant a two-day bus ride to Joplin and seven days of helping the area rebuild after the May 22 tornado.
It’s the third time for Jim Groff, who organized the trip and brought 26 volunteers with him. Many, like Groff, are members of Lions Clubs in southeast Pennsylvania, but the group includes a pastor, a student, and a just-graduated high school senior on his way to the Air Force.
Groff, of Christiana, Pa., came last July to help other Lions Club groups with debris clean-up. Soon after returning home, boarded a plane to return and volunteer for another week.
“I’m just so touched by what happened here; I wanted to bring other people to help,” said Groff, who works in building demolition and restoration.
His volunteers include some other building professionals and the group has worked on more than a half-dozen homes in the last week, on air conditioning repairs, electrical, plumbing and roofing jobs.
Local News
Volunteers from Pennsylvania wrap up week of work in Joplin
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Alcohol, speed suspected factors in fatal crash Saturday
