ELLEN MORTENSEN Courier Editor

On Friday, April 26, the world turned upside down for many of our neighbors in eastern Nebraska. I was at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln attending the Nebraska Press Association convention at the time the tornadoes hit. The hotel guests were evacuated to the lowest level of the building, where it so happened the NPA sessions were being held, so we continued on - completely impervious to the destruction that was taking place just a few miles away.

Of course, I was with a large group of journalists, and as reports began to come in on our phones of what was happening several of them grabbed their cameras and headed out to do what we do. While photos and videos of the devastation and families whose lives have been shattered may seem morbid and unnecessary, those graphic images move our hearts to want to help.

I reported back in January on a disaster relief regional warehouse that had just been completed on the property of Trinity Lutheran Church in Gothenburg. When I spoke with Pastor Jeff Cottingham for that story he showed me the boxes of supplies that had already been stocked in the warehouse. Those items include health care kits (towels, washcloths, and hygiene products), school kits (backpacks and school supplies), kitchen kits (dishcloths, towels, and cooking supplies), quilts and blankets, and diapers.

Cottingham shared with me that with the help of volunteers from three local churches, a 16-foot trailer was loaded and on-site in the Omaha areas most affected by the tornadoes within 23 hours after they hit. Because the warehouse was so new it was not yet full and is now in need of being restocked. Anyone who wants to help by donating items for the warehouse can contact Pastor Cottingham or visit the Trinity Lutheran Church website for the list of items needed.

There have also been several GoFundMe accounts set up for families who lost everything in the tornadoes - a disaster I cannot even imagine facing. It can become overwhelming reading their stories and trying to figure out how best to help. To make it easier for people who want to support those affected, all verified fundraisers related to the tornadoes can be found on GoFundMe’s Midwest Tornado Relief Hub. Fundraisers on the hub can be searched by city.

I read a story of a veteran who has served three tours in service to our country and his family who lost the home they just purchased three months ago, and all of their belongings. That is just one of the many stories that have tugged at my heartstrings this past week. I have been blessed to have never suffered that kind of loss, but if I ever do I will be so grateful to anyone willing to help. I’m sure these families are too.

Amid political debates and campus demonstrations, it is so refreshing to see the kindness and generosity of so many helping others in their time of crisis. It restores my faith in humanity and reminds us that despite our differences in opinions or values, we are all in this life together. My prayers continue for all of the families affected by the tornadoes.