One of the most power and destructive tornadoes ever recorded in the U.S. hit Joplin, Mo. on May 22, 2011.The EF5 tornado killed almost 160 people, destroyed hundreds of homes, and wiped out half the schools in Joplin. Thousands of children faced the prospect of returning to temporary, makeshift classrooms when school started on August 17.
KRGV CHANNEL 5 NEWS asked the Rio Grande Valley to help raise money and collect school supplies for the children of Joplin.
Our Goal
Fill a tractor-trailer with school supplies for Joplin students
What We Collected
The largest grassroots donation for Joplin from any group in the United States
- Three tractor-trailers full of supplies
- $23,695 in monetary donations
- More than $116,000 worth of instruments
- More than $160,000 worth of school supplies
Timeline
May 22
Deadly tornado strikes Joplin, Mo.
June 22
A CHANNEL 5 NEWS crew traveled to Joplin.
July 13
CHANNEL 5 NEWS began searching for volunteers to help with the upcoming fundraiser.
July 18
Day 1: A donated tractor-trailer was set up at the KRGV Weslaco studio to collect donations. The Valley Relief Fund was set up to collect monetary donations.
CHANNEL 5 NEWS began running a special series “Children of the Storm: Rebuilding Joplin.” The first story involved Joplin children recalling memories of when the tornado struck. (Link to story)
July 19
Day 2: CHANNEL 5 NEWS aired two stories about Joplin teachers. The couple visited the remains of their destroyed campus (Link to story) and their home (Link to story).
July 20
Day 3: Dr. C.J. Huff, the Joplin school superintendent, talks about schools starting from scratch (Link to story) and the plans to house classes in an old department store (Link to story).
Weslaco firefighters pooled their money and dropped off bags school supplies.
July 21
Day 4: A pediatrician gives a first-hand account of the tornado’s destruction and the injuries caused. (Link to story)
Several Valley residents began donating band instruments. EZ Pawns from the Valley join in on the donations, by giving 22 instruments. (Link to story) CHANNEL 5 NEWS decides to extend donation collections until Saturday. It was originally scheduled to end Friday, July 22.
July 22
Day 5: CHANNEL 5 NEWS aired a story about the Joplin children killed when the tornado struck. One story involved a man who broke his arm trying to hold onto his son, who was picked up by the tornado.
A dozen computers and more than 100 office chairs were among the items donated to Joplin students and teachers. A family donates a piano to the children of Joplin. (Link to video) The Boys & Girls Club of Pharr gave a $550 check. The McAllen Firefighter's Association Local 2602 dropped off bags of school supplies.
A second tractor-trailer arrived at the KRGV Weslaco studio to collect donations.
July 23
Day 6: A third tractor-trailer is set up at the KRGV Weslaco studio to collect donations.
July 24
Second trip to Joplin begins. Three volunteer drivers, along with a CHANNEL 5 NEWS crew, head to Joplin to drop off the donations.
May 22
Deadly tornado strikes Joplin, Mo.
June 22
A CHANNEL 5 NEWS crew traveled to Joplin.
July 13
CHANNEL 5 NEWS began searching for volunteers to help with the upcoming fundraiser.
July 18
Day 1: A donated tractor-trailer was set up at the KRGV Weslaco studio to collect donations. The Valley Relief Fund was set up to collect monetary donations.
CHANNEL 5 NEWS began running a special series “Children of the Storm: Rebuilding Joplin.” The first story involved Joplin children recalling memories of when the tornado struck. (Link to story)
July 19
Day 2: CHANNEL 5 NEWS aired two stories about Joplin teachers. The couple visited the remains of their destroyed campus (Link to story) and their home (Link to story).
July 20
Day 3: Dr. C.J. Huff, the Joplin school superintendent, talks about schools starting from scratch (Link to story) and the plans to house classes in an old department store (Link to story).
Weslaco firefighters pooled their money and dropped off bags school supplies.
July 21
Day 4: A pediatrician gives a first-hand account of the tornado’s destruction and the injuries caused. (Link to story)
Several Valley residents began donating band instruments. EZ Pawns from the Valley join in on the donations, by giving 22 instruments. (Link to story) CHANNEL 5 NEWS decides to extend donation collections until Saturday. It was originally scheduled to end Friday, July 22.
July 22
Day 5: CHANNEL 5 NEWS aired a story about the Joplin children killed when the tornado struck. One story involved a man who broke his arm trying to hold onto his son, who was picked up by the tornado.
A dozen computers and more than 100 office chairs were among the items donated to Joplin students and teachers. A family donates a piano to the children of Joplin. (Link to video) The Boys & Girls Club of Pharr gave a $550 check. The McAllen Firefighter's Association Local 2602 dropped off bags of school supplies.
A second tractor-trailer arrived at the KRGV Weslaco studio to collect donations.
July 23
Day 6: A third tractor-trailer is set up at the KRGV Weslaco studio to collect donations.
July 24
Second trip to Joplin begins. Three volunteer drivers, along with a CHANNEL 5 NEWS crew, head to Joplin to drop off the donations.
July 25
Trucks with donations arrive in Joplin at about 1 a.m. CHANNEL 5 NEWS is there when about 150 instruments are delivered to Joplin band students. Band camp will begin in a week. (Link to story)
July 26
CHANNEL 5 NEWS is in Joplin as students unload donated supplies. (Link to story) A group of Joplin children take some supplies to their local Boys & Girls Club. Band students also begin inventorying the donated instruments.
CHANNEL 5 NEWS shares the work done by Ricardo Garcia, a volunteer who spent dozens of hours at the KRGV Weslaco studio collecting donations. He then traveled with the volunteer drivers to Joplin to drop off the supplies.
July 27
CHANNEL 5 NEWS talks to Joplin teachers about the items donated by Rio Grande Valley teachers.
August 9
Seven McAllen teachers prepare for a trip to Joplin, where they’ll help teachers there get ready for the beginning of school. (Link to story)
August 13
KRGV General Manager John Kittleman delivers a check for $23,695.30 to the Joplin ISD “Adopt a Classroom” program.
August 18
Joplin students attend first day of school. (Link to story)
Trucks with donations arrive in Joplin at about 1 a.m. CHANNEL 5 NEWS is there when about 150 instruments are delivered to Joplin band students. Band camp will begin in a week. (Link to story)
July 26
CHANNEL 5 NEWS is in Joplin as students unload donated supplies. (Link to story) A group of Joplin children take some supplies to their local Boys & Girls Club. Band students also begin inventorying the donated instruments.
CHANNEL 5 NEWS shares the work done by Ricardo Garcia, a volunteer who spent dozens of hours at the KRGV Weslaco studio collecting donations. He then traveled with the volunteer drivers to Joplin to drop off the supplies.
July 27
CHANNEL 5 NEWS talks to Joplin teachers about the items donated by Rio Grande Valley teachers.
August 9
Seven McAllen teachers prepare for a trip to Joplin, where they’ll help teachers there get ready for the beginning of school. (Link to story)
August 13
KRGV General Manager John Kittleman delivers a check for $23,695.30 to the Joplin ISD “Adopt a Classroom” program.
August 18
Joplin students attend first day of school. (Link to story)
