Community in Response to Tornado Crisis
Justin and I want to thank you for all the kind words and offers of assistance many of you gave since last Monday when the tornado struck our community in Van, TX. We are so relieved that we experienced no physical damage from that night, though the emotional toll of living through it has still been pretty big.
Some of our own CSA members and their extended family members in Van sustained roof damage, as well as weeks-long loss of utilities like water and electricity.
This is one lovely thing about this CSA. Participating in Community Supported Agriculture really does build up a community around your farmer-direct food system.
Over the past two weeks, we really felt that community respond. Some are still asking for ways to help.
A part of the tornado’s path fell on the poorest side of Van where many families do not have homeowners insurance. It then struck our elementary and intermediate schools, where kindergarten through third grade attended school. The students are not attending class until the fall when portable buildings will temporarily house the students for a year or two. The teachers have lost all their educational materials, which many of them purchase themselves. If you would like to help the teachers and students in our little East Texas town, please donate to this fundraising site, which is helping our K-3rd grade teachers replace their classroom educational materials. If you would like to help the families as they rebuild and repair their homes, a local branch of the Austin Bank has set up a fund for the families of Van.
We would love to have you out to volunteer your time in Van! The American Red Cross is still present in the community as well as Samaritan’s Purse. Both are trusted disaster response organizations that are well equipped to use your talents, though if you want to make a financial gift, please consider giving to the local funds mentioned above to ensure your full donation reaches our community.
We are grateful for you!
Jess and Justin
