In the Beginning of the Tornado Aftermath

During the first weeks after the tornado hundreds showed up to help including church groups from rural areas in the Midwest. People organized themselves into groups to provide donations and food. Many people like Chad Jackson and Jake Wheeler started tarping roofs. For free. Others delivered meals.

Some took photos and left. A friend asked me WTF was I doing 'up in north city at night.' 

July 10, 2025. Ameren still working to restore power in NSTL

The West Gangway Windows

In the early morning sunlight bounces off the brick house next to us and into the room. With no direct light the room slowly brightens as the earth turns. This is 8 AM.

Eyelid dormers. North St. Louis

Little Bellie

The little deaf dog. She was always polite when asking to share a meal.

The Royal Jubilee Singers of East St. Louis, IL

Spotted in an IL thrit store. I wish I had bought it but I was distracted by my mission of buying up candles on May 17 for NSTL tornado victims.

80 Blocks

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.