2 groups collecting items for storm aid

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This Bible was found amid the rubble at Pilgrims Rest near Birmingham after an EF3 twister came through on Monday. Two local groups are gathering items to send storm victims. Photo courtesy of ABC 33/40

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January 27, 2012

Anonymous The News Courier The News Courier Fri Jan 27, 2012, 02:00 AM CST

— Two additional local groups have contacted The News Courier about collecting supplies for victims of Monday’s tornadoes.

Kyle and Charlotte Jeffries of Athens were in Jefferson County setting up a command post for Southern Baptist Disaster Relief within hours of the deadly tornadoes that struck Jefferson and Tuscaloosa counties. Now, a school group and local Realtors are helping collect items for relief.

Two people were killed and more than 100 injured by the EF3, according to National Weather Service officials, but as many as 10 tornadoes were reported in the two areas that morning.

Here is how you can help:

School supplies

Students and teachers at Creekside Elementary School are collecting school supplies for students at Center Point Elementary near Birmingham. The school was destroyed early Monday morning when an EF3 tornado tore trough the area.

Items will be collected at the school through Feb. 3. Items needed include: Packs of paper, folders, pencils, crayons, art supplies, construction paper, scissors, glue sticks, pens, sticky notes, markers, erasers and colored pencils.

“Any items that would be used in a classroom on a daily basis would be appreciated, said Candace Powers in a Facebook post about the drive. “Let’s help another community just like Limestone County was helped in April 2011.”

Relief items

The Athens Limestone Association of Realtors will be collecting items for Tornado Relief for the Birmingham and Trussville areas.

Items should be dropped by 10 a.m. today at: Keller Williams Realty West at 300 W. Green St. or Century 21 J&L Realty, 103 Cloverleaf Drive, both in Athens. Contacts are Jan Scott at 256-603-6994 or Patsy Gooch at 256-431-0388.

Requested items include:

• Gatorade/sports drinks;

• Baby items: diapers/formula/wipes

• Dog and cat food;

• Tarps;

• Large garbage bags and storage bins;

• Women and children's clothing, including shoes and coats. Items don’t have to be new but should be clean.

“We need to remember that in these times, the smallest of donation can mean the world to someone who has lost everything,” said Joyce Varnell, association executive. “Let's give them hope.”