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Volunteers clean up Waverly twister damage in 3 hours

Posted at 2:12 AM, Feb 28, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-28 02:12:09-05

WAVERLY, Va. -- People came from near and far to put a dent in the clean up effort in tornado-ravaged Waverly Saturday morning.

More than 300 volunteers reported to the Fresh Pride on Route 460 in Waverly to clean up the mess mother nature left behind.

In a matter of three hours, crews cut tree limbs and removed them from dozens of homes.

They also picked up tons of debris that littered properties and neighborhood roads in that small town.

Volunteers called it a labor of love during a tough time.

“I’m a person who loves to give back. And I hate to give back in this form, but I love to do what I can for any and everybody,” Maxine Dixon said.

Dixon said she was trying to make it to her Dinwiddie home before the storm hit. She pulled over along Route 460 to make a phone call and that is when she saw her life flash before her eyes.

“Scary, but it was too late to do anything. When I looked up, it was just right there. It was just quick,” she said.

Dixon said she thanked God for sparing her life.

Dixon spent part of her Saturday helping residents get back to some type of normalcy.

Others gave in another way.

"Helped put the food out, stopped cars, put water in there. Whatever they needed, I was just volunteering,” Robert Wilson said.

Volunteer Christopher Justin said he will never forget Waverly.

"With the devastation that was seen out here and the amount of people coming together, it's going to be hard to forget...,” Justin said. “It’s not going to help their hearts, but the rebuilding will be done soon. And everybody can get back to trying to prepare themselves.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP

RICHMOND
Bill Talley Ford off Mechanicsville Turnpike has teamed up with other local vendors to deliver much-needed supplies and necessities to the people of Tappahannock.

They are taking bottled water, canned goods, non-perishable food items and paper goods which will be used at the shelter that has been set up at Essex Intermediate School. NO clothing or blanket donations at this time.

If you would like to donate any of these items, please drop them off at Bill Talley Ford, Inc. 6280 Mechanicsville Turnpike Monday - Friday 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

The Shell station in Stoney Creek will be accepting donations that Girl Scout Troop 349 will be picking up to deliver to families in Waverly.

EVB Bank branches will serve as drop off location to collect supplies such as:
• bottled water
• non-perishable food items
• cleaning supplies (trash bags, rakes, gloves etc.)
• toiletries
• clothing
• monetary donations (checks payable to the American Red Cross, make sure to specify Tappahannock Tornado Relief Fund or Waverly Tornado Relief Fund.)

For any questions, please contact your nearest EVB branch. For a list of our branch locations, please visit https://www.bankevb.com/about-us/about-evb.html

WAVERLY

A command center has been established at the Fresh Pride, alongside Hardees, at the 233 South County Drive Building A.

A contact person will be there until 6 or 7 p.m. each night to accept donations. Contact CBS 6 if you need their number. Items are being catalogued and currently there is not a need for clothes. There is a need for nonperishable items, household items, and water.

Monetary donations can be made through the Sussex County Treasurer, just specify “Disaster Relief.”
Sussex County Treasurer
PO Box 1399
Sussex, VA 23884
(434) 246-1087

The Dinwiddie Co. Sheriff’s Office is also taking donations for Waverly at their Sheriff’s Office, 14230 Sycamore Drive. You can also contact them at 804-929-2283 or 804-943-1653 or contact through Facebook.

APPOMATTOX

A command center has been established at Liberty Baptist Church and residents are in need of nonperishable items, household items, clothing, feminine products, diapers, and water.

1709 Church St, Appomattox, VA 24522
(434) 352-2336

The county administrator’s office is assessing need for monetary donations at this time.  Their contact info is (434) 352 2637.

ESSEX COUNTY/TAPPAHANNOCK

A command center has been established at the old Southern States, at  1616 Tappahannock Blvd. Residents are in need of nonperishable items, household items, clothing, feminine products, diapers, and water.

The donations coordinator said that due to the "overwhelming generosity of our community, our neighboring communities, our fellow Virginians and other states," they can't store any more items this weekend.

They have to distribute items before they can take more.

The only items they need at this time are large, hard-sided totes and gift cards to Walmart, Lowes, and local restaurants.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER HERE ARE WAYS TO HELP:
Clean up help is needed and being organized by the Fire Department. Call 804-443-0658.

Volunteers to help with deliveries can call: Pastor Larry 804-304-0538.

Monetary Donations can be made payable to:
Essex Co. Dept of Social Services
PO Box 1004, Tappahannock, VA 22560
Memo:Tornado Relief

These funds will only be distributed to Essex Co Tornado Victims

See: http://www.tappahannockrotary.org/tornado/

Monetary donations are also being accepted through the American Red Cross, just specify Essex County Tornado.

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