TRI-STATE AREA -- Josh Finklea says, "There are a lot of people down there hurting and in need right now. We need to come to their aid and we need to come quickly."
And there are a lot of people in the Tri-States who want to help.
As of now, 122 people are dead and 750 more are hurt in Joplin, Missouri from Sunday night's tornado.
At this point, emergency workers are still in a search and rescue mission in hopes of finding survivors.
Joplin is about 300 miles from Quincy, but when the call for help went out, the Tri-State area heard the call loud and clear.
15 year old Caitlin Lee is a Freshman at Western High School in Barry. Monday night after she finished her homework, she came up with an idea to fill up a semi trailer full of supplies and send it to Joplin.
Lee says, "I just really wanted to help in anyway that I possibly could. The horrible devastation that went on there. It really kind of tugged on my heart."
Not only did it tug on her heart, it got her thinking.
Lee says, "This devastation just hit these people like that, in the blink of an eye, and it could've been us."
At 9:30 Monday night, she called her uncle Chris Little, who's the Fire Chief for the Barry Fire Protection District. She asked if his department would be willing to help. She hung up the phone, posted something on Facebook, and everything spiraled from there.
Chris Little says, "Facebook was huge. I can't believe the people who are willing to repost things and get the word out for us."
So the word went out that the Fire Protection District would host a drop off site from five p-m to seven p-m for the rest of the week, all day Saturday, and some time on Sunday. If you can help, they're looking for
Little adds, "Hygiene products, bottled water, socks, underwear, just basic staple stuff. They are asking for flashlights, batteries, gloves, those kind of things."
Josh Finklea says, "if you can think my house is wiped out, what do I need? I need toilet paper, I need toiletries, I need basic food, water, blankets, women's clothes, men's clothes, kid's clothes, baby strollers, baby carriers. Anything if that if you knew you didn't have anything, you need it, that's what we want."
Josh Finklea is the Lead Campus Pastor at The Crossing Church in Quincy. You'll also find a semi trailer there. Hopes are to fill it by Wednesday night, and hit the road for Joplin on Thursday. You can log onto www.thecrossing.net for a complete list of items. Semi trailers are being filled all over the Tri-States. The Crossing Church's campus in Macomb is another place.
Holly Whatley says, "For The Crossing, Joplin is kind of near and dear to our hearts because a lot of our staff members attended Ozark Christian College in Joplin and we have a lot of kids who attend there right now."
Back in Barry, young Caitlin Lee still has a few years before she thinks of college. She still has a good week left of school. But at least at the age of 15 she's already thinking of helping you help others.
The Barry Fire Protection District has a semi trailer, but it doesn't have a rig yet.
If you can donate one, you can call Chris Little at 217-653-3697.
There is also a small trailer donation in Pittsfield at Little's office on West Washington Street in Pittsfield.
For a complete list of donation sites all around the Tri-States, click here.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKHQA