2009: Project Mena, AK

Project name

Project Mena

Project Type

Tornado response

Project summary

Two days after a tornado devastated Mena, Arkansas, All Hands Volunteers’ was on the ground helping the town recover by helping with tree removal, home demolition and debris cleanup.

Start / finish dates

April 11, 2009 — May 15, 2009

GPS coordinates (decimal)

34.58522, -94.181622
N34° 35.1132′, W094° 10.8973′

Project Director(s)

Bill Driscoll Jr.
Jeremey Horan

Additional Project Staff

David Eisenbaum
Beca Howard

Description

On Thursday April 9, 2009 a tornado devastated downtown Mena, Arkansas, damaging more 600 homes and killing three people. Mena, a small town in the Ouachita National Forest, suffered significant structural damage. Two days after the tornado All Hands Volunteers’ assessment team was on the ground designing the response project. Volunteers began arriving April 15. Throughout the project, 31 volunteers helped with home demolition and repair and debris cleanup. All Hands Volunteers also worked with Adventists’ Disaster Response in their warehouse by sorting and organizing donations
During Project Mena we received a $5,000 donation from Music for Relief, an organization started by the band Linkin Park.

Programs

Tree removal, debris cleanup and home demolition

Beneficiaries

In total, All Hands assisted 24 households affected by the tornado by proving volunteers to clear trees and debris.

Total number of volunteers / volunteer hours

31 volunteers who donated an estimated 1184 volunteer hours; translating to $30,680 in the estimated value of donated volunteer labor.

Total cost

$17,283.96

Major Partners

Mena Church of God
AmeriCorps St. Louis Calvary Baptist Church\

List of Major Supporters

Music for Relief
Bella Vista Community Church,Bella Vista, AK – $500