North St. Louis Tornado Victims - September 8, 2025

Yesterday I delivered bags of food to Larry (In the red shirt) who is running a makeshift free kitchen for the surrounding blocks of N Taylor and Ashland.
This area was hit extremely hard by the tornado. Larry's house, a rental, had some roof damage that Chad Jackson repaired for free.
Larry has fabricated a food truck and with appliances, a grill, a generator, and food donations is trying to feed the community.
The young man wearing the hoodie is Avon. He shares cooking with Larry. Both are volunteering their time and skills.
Avon told me that his mom taught him to cook when he was 12. Avon has recently joined the military so he'll be leaving soon.
Every day I'm there I'm humbled and mortified by the destruction and poverty. I thought I understood poverty until I spent time with these men and talked to those needing food. I've met people so grateful for a meal that it was heart crushing. I've seen things that I can't write about and no, it wasn't drug related.
EVERYONE there needs assistance. Housing, employment, mental health help, ETC. Down to needing a laundry.
The most basic of those needs is food.
While Urban League is passing out food ALL of the people I've encountered don't have a car to get in line. They walk if they are nearby but many can't carry what they need. MANY of them are disabled.

I'm here to ask local readers for your help with food.
You're welcome to deliver it yourself to the outpost that Larry created or leave it on my porch.
They do have a frig. Basics are critical. Round buns are prized. Basic condiments are needed and dill pickles would cause amazement. Bottled water is very much needed.
I deliver on Thursdays.

>

3530 Paris. Kingshighway East

Jake Wheeler, Chad Jackson, and Nathan Dick were working on roofs in KHWY East on the day I was delivering cooling vests I'd bought for them. 
Along the drive I was handing out cooling hoodies and towels to men I saw working on buildings. A lot of people assumed I was with a church. I'm not.
100Roofs.com was working on Paris Ave. Jake asked me how I was and I told him that I was angry that thousands of white people showed out to protest last weekend but won't cross the Divide to help in NSTL. 
Jake pointed to a remaining pile of debris on the street saying that the City declined to pick it up becuase bricks were 'mixed in'. The City isn't picking up bricks. Jake: Does that look like a mixed pile to you?
And so tornado debris remains.

Chad happily wearing his cooling hoodie.