Lending a helping hand : NWACC students aided in tornado relief efforts in Missouri to honor the work of Jack Shewmaker.
Posted on Sunday, April 20, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/60961/
BUFFALO, Mo. — Eight students from Northwest Arkansas Community College this weekend helped in the cleanup of Buffalo, Mo., following a devastating March 31 tornado, and honored former Wal-Mart executive Jack Shewmaker at the same time.
Shewmaker, a native of Buffalo and a graduate of Buffalo High School, has donated millions of dollars to NWACC and provided many scholarships for students.
“ This is a tiny way that we can repay Mr. Shewmaker, who has done so much for our school, ” said Stacey Marshall, president of the newly formed Rotaract Club on campus. Four members of Rotaract and four from the Students in Free Enterprise made the trip to the town of 2, 800 people 30 miles north of Springfield, Mo.
The group’s primary task on Saturday morning was to clean up a large pile of debris in front of a house owned by Brian and Candy Eisman. They were able to burn some debris and put the remainder in a large Dumpster to be hauled away. The exception was Stacey’s husband, Howard Marshall, who was working at another house.
The Eisman house was one of 10 in the community, along with eight businesses, that were completely destroyed by the tornado. More than 90 residences and 18 businesses were damaged to some degree. The Eismans’ insurance had expired, so on Saturday, April 5, members of the Dallas County Emergency Recovery Unit began rebuilding the Eisman house, and by the end of the day the walls were constructed and the house had a new roof. While the NWACC students were working outside on Saturday, six members of the First Methodist Church of Kimberling City, Mo., were rewiring the Eisman home.
The students and SIFE advisor Becky Hudson arrived Friday at approximately 9: 30 p. m. and spent the night at the Calvary Chapel Free Will Baptist Church in Buffalo. Following breakfast at the church, they went to work right away and by 11: 30 a. m. had virtually disposed of the huge pile of debris.
In fact, the students were so conscientious that David Beltz, head of the DCERU, kidded Brian Eisman, “ Can you come up with some more trash ? This group is almost finished, and we need something else for them to do. ”
Lunch was provided by the nearby Our Savior Lutheran Church, and the students spent the remainder of the day cleaning up debris at other locations in the area. The DCERU treated them to dinner at Hip Pocket Pizza, and Stacey Marshall said the group planned to camp in tents Saturday night. The First Baptist Church was scheduled to provide lunch for them today, and the students planned to head back home mid-afternoon.
Beside the Marshalls and Hudson, the others that made the trip were Rebecca Marlatt, Jackie Baker, Lauren White, Ashley Anders and Anita Rausch.
“ My wife and I will be eternally grateful for the students and all of the people who have helped us out, ” Brian Eisman said.
In Buffalo, Jack Shewmaker donated most of the money for a 500-seat auditorium and arts center named The Shewmaker Center on the Buffalo High School campus. Twenty-six years ago he also was instrumental in having a Wal-Mart store constructed in Buffalo.