Out-of-town support

Our news columns regularly point out the selfless acts being carried out by local residents.

Whether it's building a community garden, helping children learn to read or raising money for impoverished and malnourished children in Haiti or Africa, our readership is saturated with generous and helpful people.

It's nice to know that there are many who care enough to send help our way from time to time, too.

Such was the case last week when a group of college-age volunteers came to help those still affected by last year's flooding. The volunteers were members of the St. George Catholic Church near Chicago; the help was coordinated through the Missouri Disaster Case Management Program and Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri. Other agencies are involved as well, including Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri. In Cape Girardeau County, Catholic Charities has identified 40 homes that have damage from last year's severe weather; there are 40 more projects in Scott County and hundreds more in the wider Southeast Missouri region.

One Cape Girardeau homeowner still had a leaky roof after damage sustained by the storms that dumped 20 inches of rain in a matter of days last year. The volunteer group helped repair the damage.

"I had no idea this type of help was out there," said Addie Marie Walker, the homeowner. "I am floored by their generosity."

The cost of materials has been provided by grants and donations from faith-based groups. Volunteers are doing the labor.

A big thank you to the volunteers for their help in Southeast Missouri.