The air around Michael John’s house was full of the aroma of smoked meats Friday night.
“I was trying to think of how I could say thank you, and the best thing I could think of was to say thank you through food,” John said. “Everybody likes food.”
John, whose house was destroyed in the May 2011 tornado, was host for a barbecue for the volunteers who have helped rebuild his home over the past several months. He worked with his childhood friend, Terry Collins, owner of TC’s Smoked Meats, to serve food, drinks and cake on Friday to about 30 volunteers from Rebuild Joplin and AmeriCorps, along with his family and friends.
“I just wanted to show them how much I appreciated everything they’ve done,” John said.
John had lived in his home in the 2300 block of South Byers Avenue for about 35 years when it was damaged beyond repair by the tornado. He lived temporarily with his daughter, with some friends and in the Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer park in north Joplin for weeks before buying some materials and starting the rebuild of his house in August 2011.
But the work proved to be too much for him. After help from another organization fell through, he got in touch with Rebuild Joplin.
Rebuild Joplin had originally been scheduled only to work on a technical matter underneath the house, but volunteers with the group eventually finished most of the inside work of the house, including some framing, utility work, flooring and insulation, project manager Brad Mudge said.
Beginning about four months ago, about 10 volunteers per week worked in rotating shifts on John’s house through Rebuild Joplin, and work wrapped up about three weeks ago, Mudge said.
“We’ve had a good time and are very excited and happy to have Michael home,” he said.
John said the help from Rebuild Joplin was a “godsend.”
“It would have taken me probably two years to get to this point that they have gotten to in months,” he said.
John has moved into his home, but he admits that adjusting to a new house after 35 years in another one has been a challenge.
“Really it’s not home yet, but I can see that it will be,” he said. “It’s very comfortable.”
In addition to the barbecue, Rebuild Joplin put on a ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally welcome John to his new home.
Tara Clark, client services and volunteer manager with Rebuild Joplin, said she was “delighted” to help John celebrate his homecoming.
“It’s one of the homes we talk about when we talk about success stories,” she said during the ribbon-cutting. “We’re just super excited to bring you home; so, welcome home.”
Appreciation
“They were so great; they worked with me on everything,” Michael John said of volunteers with Rebuild Joplin and AmeriCorps.
May 2011 Joplin tornado
Related Photos
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Michael John looks at digital photographs early Friday night with his mother, Betty John, and his daughter, Hannah Nally. The occasion was a barbecue party John put on for the volunteers who helped him rebuild his home in the 2300 block of Byers Avenue. GLOBE | ROGER NOMER
Discussion
Joplin resident throws party for volunteers who helped rebuild house
- May 2011 Joplin tornado
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FACES OF RECOVERY: 176,869 volunteers help put Joplin together again
They initially came in droves, pouring into Joplin by the thousands during the months following the May 2011 tornado to clear debris, clean up damaged homes and businesses and distribute donations of food, water, clothing and other necessities.
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SLIDESHOW: One year later, One day of unity, updated
Photos from a day of events commemorating the May 22, 2011 tornado anniversary
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Therapy dogs
Any question that Louie was bred to put people as ease is put to rest when the golden retriever trots over to where a visitor sits and puts his head on their knee, the dog’s eyes filled with a gentle affection.
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Nova Kluseman and Jeanne Morrow
Nova Kluseman has staked her claim on Wednesdays at the Mercy medical office clinics where she volunteers. The staff at Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri will know it’s Thursday when they see Jeanne Morrow walk through the door.
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Greentree Community Church
Every two months, Joplin plays host to some now-familiar faces. They’re members of Greentree Community Church in St. Louis, and they have “adopted” the city as one of their mission projects since the tornado.
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Virginia Laas
Virginia Laas isn’t an accountant or bookkeeper by trade. But when the tornado caused significant damage to Joplin Schools, and subsequently spurred a massive landslide of donations to the district, Laas voluntarily stepped into those roles to fill a need that administrators were too busy to handle.
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Rebecca Williams
Two years after the tornado, Rebecca Williams remains committed to helping people around the world keep up with the progress that has been made in Joplin.
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Community Outreach Team
While it didn’t yet have a formal name, the seeds of Freeman Health System’s Community Outreach Team were planted in the hours following the tornado.
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Jewish Disaster Response Corps
“Tikkun olam” is Hebrew for “repairing the world,” and the concept — of service to others, of helping those in need — is prevalent in Judaism.
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Dorothy Maples
Dorothy Maples always felt a calling to volunteer, whether it was participating in a fundraiser or giving a hand to help someone in need.
- More May 2011 Joplin tornado Headlines
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