Operation Compassion Builds a New House
Easter Sunday, 2020 will be a most memorable day in the lives of many across the southeastern United States. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting shutdown, many people were planning on celebrating Easter Sunday at home. However, during the early morning hours, a tornado outbreak stuck many locations causing death and destruction.
Cleveland, TN was one such location. Several tornadoes brought destruction to many homes striking on the east side of town. Dozens of homes were destroyed or severely damaged beyond repair. As a result, Operation Compassion was in a unique situation of helping our neighbors.
Debris from destroyed home
Operation Compassion began calling on our disaster relief partners to help with delivering product, bringing in debris clean-up crews and volunteers. God’s Pit Crew (GPC), one of our most valued partners immediately responded with product, volunteers and heavy equipment. Operation Compassion also resourced and supplied generators, food, water and other emergency supplies to the Men/Women of Action (MWOA) relief site.
Following the initial response, GPC felt like they wanted to do a rebuild on the east side of Cleveland. In May, a family, Steve and Willistine Woods, was selected and told a brand new home was going to be built for them free of charge. Shortly afterward, GPC learned that this couple’s daughter was in dire straits herself and GPC decided to build her a new home as well.
Steve and Willistine Woods and Lisa Boen of OC
As the build began to take on a life of its own, the project was officially given a name – The Matthew 5:14 Project: Building Together. Soon, Mercy Chefs and MWOA joined GPC and Operation Compassion as major sponsors. Another partner with Operation Compassion, Affordable Roofing, Siding and Gutters will be donating the roofs.
The houses are being framed offsite and will be brought to Cleveland by truck and everything assembled and put together beginning in July. The final build will take about 2 weeks.
As with every project, Operation Compassion really needs its financial supporters. Join with Operation Compassion in The Matthew 5:14 Project: Rebuilding Together. Become a partner today!
