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Bringing the Message of Love to Sullivan, Indiana

May 17, 2023

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Disaster Relief

On March 31, 2023, an outbreak of tornadoes wreaked havoc on the Midwest – with 23 tornadoes hitting the state of Indiana alone. The burst was sudden, leaving unsuspecting residents with little time to respond. In Sullivan, IN, resident Lisa Runyon recalled: “I could tell that there was like a section that came over the house. I yelled at my daughter, ‘This is serious, we’ve got to go down to the basement.” Sadly, Lisa, like many of her neighbors, lost her home.

Having monitored the situation and assessing the aftermath, Tzu Chi USA Midwest Regional volunteers hosted an emergency financial aid distribution to help severely impacted residents get quick cash funds, but also emotional and spiritual support from Tzu Chi.

To explain, Tzu Chi Volunteer James Fung from Indianapolis, said, “cash assistance may help with some expenses, [but] really, it’s the message of love from Master Cheng Yen. Hopefully those really give them the inspiration to stay strong.”

For survivors like Lisa, the token offers hope: “this $800 will go a long way toward putting [a new truck] on the road, so then I’ll have something to drive.”

See how volunteers put their compassion in action on April 23, 2023 in Sullivan, Indiana in our latest video. And, help us provide this meaningful aid in times of crisis with a donation at donate.tzuchi.us/cause/chicago.

CREDITS

DP: Dennis Lee
Editor: Yanxin Piao
Music: Foever Yours by Lance Conrd, Flowing by Borrtex

Related:

Tzu Chi , Disaster Relief , Engaged Buddhism , Tornado , Sullivan County , Indiana , Midwest , American Midwest , Volunteerism , Nonprofit

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