Members of the University of Arkansas football team brought supplies and helped organize donated goods Wednesday at McAuley Catholic High School.
About 80 players, along with coaches and support personnel, came to Joplin on four charter buses. The players moved heavy or bulky school equipment and stacked boxes of supplies in the high school gymnasium.
“The coaches came together and told us to come and offer support and help the town of Joplin,” said running back Ronnie Wingo Jr.
“We haven’t seen a lot of things yet,” Wingo said. “We’re just helping out with food, beverages and stuff.”
The assistance came in response to the May 22 tornado that heavily damaged St. John’s Regional Medical Center and destroyed thousands of homes.
“People were being so generous. There was just a lot of confusion,” said Della Hagedorn of Catholic Charities Disaster Relief. “Maryann Mitts, Dottie Elbert and I just said, ‘We need some organization to this chaos.’ ”
Hagedorn, who is the wife of Dr. David Hagedorn, said she and her daughter, Kendra Smith, were at ground zero performing search and rescue after the tornado struck.
Her daughters Rebecca and the recently married Josie Metcalf are helping with distribution and office duties at the high school, and her mother came from Utah to help.
“That’s my main message,” Hagedorn said. “We need the Catholic community in here helping.”
Knile Davis, an Arkansas running back from Houston, Texas, said he was at Bud Walton Arena when the tornado struck Joplin.
“It was sad, but we were thankful,” Davis said. “When coach (Bobby Petrino) gave us the opportunity to help out, we jumped on it. We’re just happy to be out here and able to help.”
Some of the Arkansas football players will return to Joplin periodically and continue to help with cleanup efforts.
“They were so impressed with this operation that in two weeks they’re sending 30 guys back up and help rebuild a house,” Hagedorn said. “They want this to be ongoing.”
It’s a life-changing experience for a lot of them, to see this, said Mark Robinson, director of football operations for the Razorbacks.
“We are fortunate when the storms came through,” Robinson said. “We were making plans ourselves ... just to be safe. It’s a great chance for our players to give back to the community and to be a part of the rebuilding process here.”
For D.J. Williams, former Arkansas tight end, the day meant a temporary escape from limbo. Williams was a fifth-round draft selection of the Green Bay Packers, but has not been able to join his professional team because of the NFL labor dispute.
“I was working out with my boys in Fayetteville and I heard they were coming up here,” Williams said. “I wanted to be a part of what the country has done to help out Joplin. It was an opportunity to help.
“I can only do so much,” Williams said of awaiting the chance to showcase his skills with the Packers. “My bowling average has gone up about 30 points and I’ve actually learned to hit a golf ball.”
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Related Photos
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Globe/T. Rob Brown Arkansas running back Dennis Johnson (left), a junior criminal justice and sociology major, carries some cases of bottled beverages at McAuley Catholic High School.
Discussion
June 1, 2011
Arkansas football players join Joplin relief effort
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Outlaws open season Thursday on the road
Chris Oldner takes a cut during the Joplin Outlaws practice Tuesday afternoon. The Outlaws open their season on Thursday night at Rossville and play seven road games before their home opener on June 5.
The Joplin Outlaws and new coach Rob Vessell have set some lofty goals for the 2012 baseball season.
Continued ... - Stanton’s homers fuel Marlins’ surge in May
- Five sign to join Missouri Southern women's track team
- Whisner ignites Joplin Miners past Webb City
- Venus Williams joins Serena on sideline in Paris
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- Pittsburg State Sports
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- Vengels sixth in heptathlon; PSU picks up two seventh-place finishes
- Ethan Cordray signs with Pittsburg State
- Lions, Gorillas begin competition in outdoor track and field championship
- Three finalists named for PSU head baseball coach position
- Lions qualify 10, PSU 15 for Division II outdoor track meet
- Missouri Southern Sports
- High School Sports
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Area athletes turn shine at state meet
Webb City's Jarvis Jones takes sixth in the 200.
- Cleo Elbert steps down at Thomas Jefferson
- Frontenac wins first state baseball title
- Joplin's Jeremy Lynn takes fifth at state tennis
- Frontenac advances at state baseball
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