Springfield church helps Oklahoma victims

A local church has reached out to the victims in Moore, Okla., after last week’s tornado that left several homes in rubble and many people with nothing.

The Northside Church of God in Springfield, in connection with Caring Partners International, has shipped more than 1,000 pounds of supplies, including diapers, baby formula, towels, first aide supplies, blankets and sheets to the Tornado Relief Distribution Center at Fresh Start Community Church in Oklahoma.

The supplies were shipped Friday and are expected to arrive today.

The church organized the donations by contacting Caring Partners International and arranged for the supplies to be shipped.

“If needed, more supplies will be shipped,” from the church, said Wanda Ditty, mission chairwoman.

Three skids of supplies were shipped by truck and R&L Trucking donated the shipping cost.

“Additional materials will be shipped to churches in the Oklahoma City area in the weeks to come,” said Rhonda Reed, executive director of Caring Partners International, in an email.

Caring Partners International is located in Franklin, Ohio. It’s a charity funded through church mission budgets, according to its website.

Seven volunteers from the Northside Church of God also went to Franklin last week to help sort donations.

“We do it to help the needy,” said Ditty. “We see the need in our own country, even in our own city.”

Anyone interested in volunteering to help with relief efforts in Oklahoma can call the Red Cross at (800) RED-CROSS or visit the group’s Springfield office at 1830 N. Limestone St. So far, the local chapter hasn’t sent any staff members or volunteers to Oklahoma.

To contact any local agencies willing to take financial or clothing donations, residents can call 211 to reach the Clark County Information and Referral line.

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