Tulsa and Joplin’s area Habitat for Humanity offices partnered with local residents and businesses in efforts to build 10 homes for 10 families that were affected by the May 22 tornado.  The build began on October 29 and hopes to be finished by November 13. 

The need for better housing, creating a partnership with Habitat for Humanity to help build the home and the ability to pay back a zero-interest mortgage are all criteria the families had to meet before being chosen for the home. The payments on the mortgages go straight back to Habitat for Humanity to then help build future homes.

The new homes are also a part of the disaster relief efforts, which is something new for organization. 

“There’s a bigger sense of urgency when its disaster relief,” Jane Dunbar, director of development for the Tulsa Habitat for Humanity said. 

All of the work has been by volunteers and the families receiving the homes and Dunbar says the “volunteers have been wonderful.” 

“We had so many who wanted to come. There were probably 2,800-3,000 volunteers in a two-week period,” she said. 

The group decided on the project after hearing about what happened in Joplin. 

“We wanted to make a significant impact,” Dunbar said. 

“We were very moved by what happened in Joplin and decided we have to help if we can.” 

The staff from the Tulsa Habitat for Humanity felt like building 10 homes was something that was challenging, yet still a realistic goal. 

“They’ve been a huge blessing and honor for us,” Dunbar said. 

Missouri Southern also helped with the project, giving faculty and staff time off to volunteer. International Student Adviser Stephanie Goad lost her home in the tornado and says she knows the importance of volunteering from being on the receiving end and that “it’s a team effort.” 

 ‘Tornado Time’ is what Southern has offered to its employees that either have wanted to volunteer or those who have lost their homes, allowing time for those affected to began piecing back their lives.  All levels of Southern’s family donated their time and skills to help with this project, helping the community as well as the families heal. 

“I was ecstatic Missouri Southern offered an opportunity to volunteer,” Goad said. “As a campus community I feel we rose to the occasion to help the community with the healing process.” 

Growing up, Goad helped her father who worked as a contractor. Learning everything from plumbing, electrical and AC/Heat, she says that it was wonderful being able to use those skills to help other people.

“It was healing to me to able to help someone else, and for the community,” she said, “There’s still a huge amount of work to do and it wont be the same … it’ll be better.”