Florissant Lends a Helping Hand to Joplin

Although a EF-5 almost three months ago, the city’s residents continue to get back on their feet, and this week, Florissant hopes to help in that matter.

Together with the and the , the Salvation Army has put together a drive to send two 53-foot trailer trucks to Joplin with an array of supplies.

“I want to make sure these pallets are full,” Chris Herbert, the director of database services for the Salvation Army, said. “I want them to be forehead high.”

Herbert, who is also a member of the Knights of Columbus and resides in Florissant, has been a driving force in getting the drive up and running. She also has personal ties to the Joplin tornado.

Herbert and her family lived in Joplin for eight years before moving to Florissant in 1987. After the tornado, she visited at the end of last month and was shocked at the destruction that remained, but she kept hope.

“The trees looked like toothpicks, but underneath, there was all of this green foliage,” she said. “It shows that life goes on.”

When Alex Meyer, another member of Knights of Columbus, brought the idea to Herbert in mid-July, she was gung ho to get the drive operational.

“It got her wheels turning, and we came up with a plan to do all of this,” Meyer said, referring to the truck drive.

Herbert said that currently, one truck has been completely filled with eight pallets as well as 18 twin-bed box springs and headboards, which were donated by the fire department.

The second truck will be filled as well, Herbert said, and she would love to have a third truck filled, but more donations are needed.

The shelter, located behind the , has become a department store of sorts with several things fitting into a certain category on each table, from baby stuff to appliances.

“Chris has it well organized,” Terri Schmalbeck, one of the 20 volunteers at the site, said. “It should all help them.”

The drive continues through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., at Old St. Ferdinand Shrine.

Items requested for donation include:

• Cleaning items
• Bleach 
• Dishwashing liquid
• Diapers all sizes
• Efferdent
• Brushes/combs
• Can openers  
• Towels      
• Blankets
• Dishes  
• Lamps 
• Coffeemakers
• Silverware 
• Glasses
• Pots and pans
• Shower curtains
• Blinds 
• Cooking utensils  
• Bedding
• Pillows

They’ve requested no clothes or shoes be donated.