Churches team up this Easter weekend to help Lewis Place recover from 2010 tornado

Repair work continues this Saturday from 8:30a.m. To 12:30 p.m.

Volunteers from Church of the Shepherd adn Ashbury Church
team up to make repairs to a home damaged by the 2010 New Year's
Eve tornado in the Lewis Place Neighborhood of St. Louis.

Story by Walter Pritchard
Soaring High Media Group

The tornado that ripped through a significant number of homes – and lives – of residents of the Lewis Place Neighborhood 15 months ago is producing hope and friendly partnerships that extend beyond the borders of the north St. Louis community.


Helping hands to make repairs and lift the spirits of Lewis Place residents have come in from all over the metro area, the latest being assistance from members of St. Charles’ Church of the Shepherd and nearby Ashbury, both United Methodist Church affiliates.

Congregation members teamed up last month for a day long service project that included repairing a porch, hanging dry wall, lay subflooring and weeding a garden. The group is returns this Saturday morning, April 7, to continue the repair work.

“It’s not Joplin, but many in the Lewis Place neighborhood are still trying to recover from the damaging impact of the New Year’s Eve 2010 tornado,” said Steve Blacksher, pastor and evangelism director at Church of the Shepherd.

“It’s giving us the opportunity to offer the hope of Christ in “hands-on ways” to some people that many, including myself, had forgotten,” Blacksher added. “Working side-by-side is offering the opportunity to develop relationships that might not have ever happened.”

The December 31, 2010 tornado that hit the St. Louis area wreaked havoc in the historic Lewis Place neighborhood and surrounding areas. Many homes were badly damaged by the fierce winds and many homeowners were either displaced or forced to live in challenging conditions. A large portion of the residents are elderly and either are under insured or have no insurance.

Lewis Place features handsome brickwork homes build between 1890-1920. It is an area where one of the first struggles by African-Americans to break the color line was waged against restrictive covenants, which enforced racial segregation.

Since the storm, friends, neighbors, government, various church- and community-based organizations and government agencies have rallied around Lewis Place to help the residents in the recovery process.

Organizations like The Prince Hall Masons, Thrivant, Kirkwood Baptist Church-Passport Camp, Centennial Christian Church and others provided services ranging from repairs, painting, carpentry, clean-up, gardening and weeding to the donation of supplies and equipment. Individuals have donated money and time, including 13 year old Nile Trice who sponsored a skating party that raised $1,066.

City officials pledged $1 million for repairs. To date, no public money has come in.

Ivan C. James, lay pastor at Ashbury, said working in Lewis Place is “an opportunity to practice the gospel of Jesus Christ by providing assistance to God's Children who were in need.”

For additional information about helping Lewis Place, contact Pamela Talley of the Lewis Place Historical Preservation at 314.535.1354