GREENSBORO, N.C. - Since Sunday night, many have stepped up to help tornado victims on every level. We've seen it on the streets, with people going door to door with hot food, or with neighbors helping neighbors, clean up debris.
It's going to take months to rebuild what was destroyed, but people from across Greensboro say they're here to help for the long haul.
Traci Rankins and her husband own the bakery, Easy Peasy. This week, 10 percent of their total sales will go to the tornado victims, plus they’re collecting donations, to give to storm victims as well.
Rankins felt compelled to do this because she's lived it. After Hurricane Katrina, she spent 21 days in Mississippi, without anyone able to reach her.
“I was in Katrina, and that was probably the hardest thing that anybody would have to see or live through,” she said, “I lost everything. That's actually how I ended up here in North Carolina.”
Down the road, at the Health and Style Institute, the school for aspiring cosmetologists, is also taking donations. With every donation you bring, you will get 50 percent off your beauty treatment - things like haircuts or facials - for at least the next week.
“Obviously we had some students and some faculty and staff as well that were affected by the storm so we wanted to make sure we could give back to them,” said Rachel Spencer, “More importantly we want to make sure our community is upheld. Our community is what runs this school.”
Just houses away from the tornado's path, New Light Missionary Baptist Church members want to make sure the impacted community knows this is a sanctuary for them. Piles of food, water and clothing fill the gym, with more donations coming in by the hour.
“After seeing the people and the devastation, just dealing with the reality of the tornado, it really took to our hearts,” said Courtney Hunt, “We knew we had to come together. Power has been restored and people have gone back to work but there are still a lot of people that are still piecing their lives together.”
Of course, there are countless other stories like these - but the resounding message remains: this community comes together in times of crisis and need.
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