The storm damage isn't evident from Apison Baptist Church, but it lies just over the hill. The church has collected a wide assortment of relief items - baby items, clothing, cleaning supplies, nonperishable food - and is giving it to those in need Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.
"It started out to help people right here that are our friends and neighbors," said pastor Bob Dasal, who presided over two funerals for local residents lost in the storm. "It hit Apison and we're part of Apison. If I had a real strong arm I could probably throw from the church over to where it was. We want to help people in our community and anybody else we can help."
The church is sending teams out to survey needs and deliver items. Many residents won't leave their homes, said Dasal.
It seems others want to help as well. Donations have poured in from neighboring churches, a church just outside of Knoxville has been helping with cleanup efforts, and someone in Ohio mailed a check.
Dasal said they have more than enough clothes in sizes from newborn through adults and in plus sizes as well. Everything is neatly sorted, and people are allowed to take what they need within reason. Three tractor-trailer trucks worth of supplies stand at the ready, but Dasal said more cleaning supplies, including masks and rubber gloves, might be useful.
"Originally FEMA had considered setting up their operation here, but we got so many things donated we sort of didn't have room for them to be here," he said. "We have quite a sizable operation. We're definitely going to be here throughout the month of May. If there's still a need, we're trying to set ourselves up so that we could continue as needed."
More time will definitely be needed to erase the physical and emotional scars of what happened. Dasal said several church members suffered damage to their homes.
"It's sort of amazing that you're driving along and everything looks normal and then all of a sudden it looks like somebody dropped a bomb," he said.
HOW TO HELP
*Apison Baptist Church is located at 11127 Old E. Brainerd Road and can be reached at 236-4291. The church has set up an on-site relief center stocked with donations that is open to the public Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. Donations are also accepted on-site. Foodstuffs are available, but the church does not have the ability to prepare hot meals for large groups.
*Concord Baptist Church, at 7025 E. Brainerd Road, is also accepting donations for victims in the Apison area. Find out more at www.concord-baptist.org or call 892-9313.
*Apison Elementary will accept battery donations until the end of the school year May 25. Although the main needs are C- and D-cell batteries, all sizes will be accepted as long as they are new and in an unopened package. A drop box is located in the office of the school at 10433 E. Brainerd Road. School officials will transport the batteries to Apison Baptist Church.