July 2 celebration planned in Cunningham Park for Joplin tornado volunteers

(From the City of Joplin)

As we mark the one-month anniversary of the Joplin tornado, 45,304 volunteers have come to Joplin to help with clean-up efforts; in all, registered volunteers have contributed over 207, 105 hours helping Joplin residents clean up and begin to rebuild from this disaster. To put that number in perspective, that’s over 23 years’ worth of work at a 24/7 pace in just these past four weeks.


To celebrate and commemorate this display of what we call the Miracle of the Human Spirit, we’re extending an invitation to everyone who reads this message…spend the weekend celebrating our nation’s birthday in Joplin, by rolling up your sleeves and lending a pair of hands to help us recover. We promise you’ll go home with a lifetime of experiences and memories that will make you feel proud to be an American.

At 6 p.m. on July 2nd all volunteers are invited to Joplin’s Cunningham Park, located at the intersection of 26th and Maiden Lane, in the shadow of St. John’s Mercy Hospital, for a free picnic meal and concert provided by Nashville recording artist Rich McCready (www.richmccready.com). Country singer Kaleb McIntire and internationally known Jah/Kings with Alexander Kofi are also scheduled to perform.

While the citizens of Joplin are extremely grateful for the assistance that has come in from all 50 states as well as internationally (Spain and Japan, among others), the work is far from over.

Many volunteers, giving many more hours, are still needed. To get involved, call 417-625-3543. Volunteer coordinators note that various jobs are available if you are unable to work in the neighborhoods moving debris.