ROLLING FORK, Mississippi – A Little Rock-based company is accepting and shipping donations to help victims of the Mississippi tornado.
The Pain Treatment Centers of America (PTCOA) clinic still stands on the edge of Rolling Fork. That’s more than many of the people who worked there can say for themselves.
Scary recovery underway in tornado-devastated Mississippi
“We have about 10 employees in total at Rolling Fork, and about four of them lost everything,” said Richard Tillman, PTCOA’s human resources director.
Homes, vehicles, pets and more have been hijacked in the mile-long EF-4 twister.
“Our practice manager here was able to get into her basement, and then she had to be pulled out of her basement because the house just collapsed above it,” Tillman said.
He added that even before his staff asked for help, others got involved.
“As soon as I heard this was happening, I started getting calls from our staff in Arkansas wanting to know how they could help,” Tillman said.
Each of PTCOA’s 15 locations accepted donations from employees. At the Shackleford Clinic, a box filled by staff was emptied three times on Monday morning. Three employees had already filled up their cars and driven them to Rolling Fork, including Tillman, and he says each location is currently open to accepting community donations.
Mississippi tornadoes kill 23, injuring dozens overnight
They are asking people please consider making a donation:
* Clothing – All sizes (new clothing only)
* Cover
* Toiletries
* toys
* Cleaning supplies
* Suncream
* Insect repellent
* Canned goods
* Ziploc bags (gallons)
* Large garbage bags
“This is pure Arkansan,” said Paul Bonham. Bonham is a patient at the Pain Treatment Centers of America clinic who saw the donation box at the Shackleford Drive clinic on Monday.
Bonham is from Mountain Home and says being from a small town himself, this disaster inspired him to donate.
“A city just blew away completely. You know it’s incredible,” Bonham said. “I want to do everything to help them.”
PTCOA is working to get its Rolling Fork team back on its feet with donations first so its clinicians can begin helping the many people affected by the tornado that killed at least two dozen people.
“Anything beyond that is given to the community because it’s not just us who are affected. There are a lot of people who have lost everything,” Tillman added.
Mississippi tornado victims are asking, “How can we rebuild?”
The Rolling Fork PTCOA clinic received a generator on Monday and the water supply was restored, so they plan to reopen on Tuesday. Arkansas clinics that accept donations are located in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Hot Springs, Conway, White Hall, Searcy, Jonesboro, Texarkana, Fort Smith, Bentonville, and Fayetteville.
Mississippi locations include Greenville, Rolling Fork and Greenwood. Visit PTCOA.com for exact locations.
