Relief agencies say many of the families who are victims of the Adairsville tornado were already in desperate need. Churches have stepped up and planned a massive clean-up for Saturday morning.
The Adairsville Church of God has become the unofficial epicenter of the relief effort for the tornado victims. They are collecting clothes and registering volunteers as well as collecting food.
More than 1,000 volunteers will leave from the church on Saturday morning and go into the community to assist the tornado victims.
"One of the guys in my church has six dump trucks. He coming tomorrow and we are going to be doing it…It's not an organization or a denomination, it's Christian people who have a love for people, who are absolutely giving everything they got to help the people who have lost everything they had," said the Rev. Ken Coomer of Adairsville Church of God.
The Adairsville Church of God is being used because it was fortunate enough to still have electricity after the storm. The sanctuary has become a warehouse for clothing; the kitchen has become a community pantry for the hungry. They are feeding both those in needs and the volunteers who continue to pour in.
"We have fed hundreds of people, thousands of people already on this third day. We don't even really know where the food is coming in," said Joyce Coomer, Ken's wife.
All the churches in the area are part of the relief effort. Two years ago, there was another tornado in the same area that brought the community together through its churches.
"We met with our pastors last night, made sure they knew the plan. They were out walking, doing assessments this morning. It's just one of those things that's fun to see people working together in unity," said David Franklin of the Faith Based Recovery Effort.
Since classes are canceled, the youth group has stayed the night in the church, babysitting and comforting young storm victims.
Donations are being accepted.
"We really need Wal-Mart cards, because we can put that card in there and they can spend it how they need to spend it," said Joyce Coomer.
The Gainesville City Council is moving ahead with a study to determine the feasibility of a new convention center and hotel in the northeast Georgia city.
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Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:47 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:47:46 GMT
Atlanta fire crews are battling a huge, two-alarm blaze at an automotive business downtown.
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Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:45 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:45:02 GMT
Authorities have canceled an Amber Alert for a 1-year-old girl after she was found safe.
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Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:57 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:57:46 GMT
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