MONROE - News broadcasts of the tornado damage in Joplin, Mo., don't tell the whole story, said two area women who were there during Memorial Day weekend.
The devastation is much worse, they said, and the people there are not as discouraged as portrayed.
Ashley Thompson-Sherwin, 26, Madison, and her sister, Asia Simas, 18, Monticello, spent a day helping with cleanup efforts in Joplin, as part of a volunteer group arranged by the Boys and Girls Club of Madison.
"The news didn't show anything near the devastation we witnessed," Asia said.
Ashley said what they saw was more than she could handle.
"Even though I had seen it on television, you cannot prepare yourself," she said. "You can't be prepared.
"There were cribs and strollers in the yards, and kids' toys. And as a mother, I wondered, did they make it?" she added.
Asia said news broadcasts show very little of the property damage, and stories of the people show them as sad and devastated.
"The news doesn't tell the good side," she said. "The people aren't all crying or wishing it hadn't happened. There are people out on every street handing out free food. Never once did they say they were upset or ask why this happened to them, but that they were happy to be alive."
Ashley explained that local groups and businesses are set up on almost every corner, giving food to residents and volunteers.
"They gave all of us on the bus something to eat, so we could keep working. They were always giving. Giving, giving, giving. It was amazing to see how everyone in the community pulled together like that," she said.
But Joplin residents can use more cleanup volunteers, added Ashley, a 2003 Monroe High School graduate.
"It's going to take them forever to clean up," she said, "but knowing there are people who care and are willing to help them raises their spirits. One guy we asked to help (work in his yard), he was almost in tears."
At another location, the group sorted metal, wood and shingles into piles while digging out dental and medical records.
Ashley and Asia said they did not know how they were going to help when they got to Joplin.
"We just loaded up water and Gatorade, rakes and shovels, and went," Ashley said.
The sisters shared the same overwhelming thought of helping the Joplin tornado victims after watching the same televised broadcast of the damage, even though they were miles apart at the time.
"I had seen tons (broadcasts of natural disasters) before, but this one, I felt I needed to go," Ashley said.
Asia was with her mother, Colleen Ostenson, Juda, when she saw the broadcast.
"We all agreed, it'd be cool to go," she said. But the cost to travel that far held Asia back, until Ashley called her the next day.
Ashley had made the travel arrangements, and convinced Asia to join her.
"We're Christians," Asia said, "and God bugged me to go after seeing it on the news."
Ashley left her 6-year-old son and 3-month-old daughter, and Asia left her 2-month-old daughter with their mother and caught the volunteers' bus to Joplin three days later.
The devastation is much worse, they said, and the people there are not as discouraged as portrayed.
Ashley Thompson-Sherwin, 26, Madison, and her sister, Asia Simas, 18, Monticello, spent a day helping with cleanup efforts in Joplin, as part of a volunteer group arranged by the Boys and Girls Club of Madison.
"The news didn't show anything near the devastation we witnessed," Asia said.
Ashley said what they saw was more than she could handle.
"Even though I had seen it on television, you cannot prepare yourself," she said. "You can't be prepared.
"There were cribs and strollers in the yards, and kids' toys. And as a mother, I wondered, did they make it?" she added.
Asia said news broadcasts show very little of the property damage, and stories of the people show them as sad and devastated.
"The news doesn't tell the good side," she said. "The people aren't all crying or wishing it hadn't happened. There are people out on every street handing out free food. Never once did they say they were upset or ask why this happened to them, but that they were happy to be alive."
Ashley explained that local groups and businesses are set up on almost every corner, giving food to residents and volunteers.
"They gave all of us on the bus something to eat, so we could keep working. They were always giving. Giving, giving, giving. It was amazing to see how everyone in the community pulled together like that," she said.
But Joplin residents can use more cleanup volunteers, added Ashley, a 2003 Monroe High School graduate.
"It's going to take them forever to clean up," she said, "but knowing there are people who care and are willing to help them raises their spirits. One guy we asked to help (work in his yard), he was almost in tears."
At another location, the group sorted metal, wood and shingles into piles while digging out dental and medical records.
Ashley and Asia said they did not know how they were going to help when they got to Joplin.
"We just loaded up water and Gatorade, rakes and shovels, and went," Ashley said.
The sisters shared the same overwhelming thought of helping the Joplin tornado victims after watching the same televised broadcast of the damage, even though they were miles apart at the time.
"I had seen tons (broadcasts of natural disasters) before, but this one, I felt I needed to go," Ashley said.
Asia was with her mother, Colleen Ostenson, Juda, when she saw the broadcast.
"We all agreed, it'd be cool to go," she said. But the cost to travel that far held Asia back, until Ashley called her the next day.
Ashley had made the travel arrangements, and convinced Asia to join her.
"We're Christians," Asia said, "and God bugged me to go after seeing it on the news."
Ashley left her 6-year-old son and 3-month-old daughter, and Asia left her 2-month-old daughter with their mother and caught the volunteers' bus to Joplin three days later.