Three families recently received new mobile homes to replace their homes destroyed during the April 19 tornado thanks to Columbia Strong.
This year an EF-2 tornado came through the southern part of Marion County causing destruction of homes in the Pine Burr and Sandy Area and also claimed a life.
Maggie Ingram, one of the volunteers with Columbia Strong, works for the United Methodist Committee on Relief. She said they provide grants to organizations to help others in times of need. Columbia Strong was able to receive a grant, and with business donations and fundraisers, the organization has been able to purchase the mobile homes.
On Sept. 10, the first of three homes were dedicated. Fred and Carmen Ezell in the Jamestown community received their home. At the dedication, members of Columbia Strong gathered around and prayed for protection over the new home.
Sept. 11, the other two homes were dedicated in the Pine Burr area. The first one to Willie and Joyce Hibley and the other to Ike and Sherry Herring.
“Man, some say 2020 has been awful, but I say it’s been great,” Ike Herring said.
The ones that received the mobile homes had no insurance when the tornado struck and were not in a situation where they could afford to rebuild. The mobile homes the families received did not cost the families any money.
Columbia Strong is a non-profit organization that came to be after the Dec. 23, 1994 EF-3 tornado struck Columbia and caused major damage. Since then the organization has been working to not only help the citizens in Marion County but also elsewhere. Recently the organization took supplies to areas in Louisiana affected by Hurricane Sally.
Columbia Strong is still working to provide nine more mobile homes and then will begin on repairs of other homes affected.
