TUPELO - A flood of donations and offers of help hit the city's Department of Development Services this week after a Daily Journal story about home demolitions.

And their generosity might have sparked a new program of benevolence.

The story highlighted city-ordered demolitions of properties unfit for habitation, including that of an east Tupelo man. The city donated supplies to help the man fix his house and avoid the wrecking ball, but he still lacked 20 squares of roofing.

Phones starting ringing at in City Hall the morning the story appeared, said Lynda Ford, building inspector.

"It was an outpouring of wonderful people in the city of Tupelo who wanted to help those in need," Ford said. "I was just amazed at the outpouring."

Donations

People wanted to donate roofing shingles, money, tools and manpower, she said.

One of those people was Patsy McBride, who had roofing supplies in her garage gathering dust.

"We didn't need them," she said. "And I just wanted to help this man. It's just so sad."

By the time McBride contacted Ford, the city already had received enough roofing squares from other donations to get the job done.

But McBride's name will go on a new list, along with those of others who offered aid. Ford said the city will call people on the list whenever a similar situation arises. The goal, she said, is to help residents repair their homes and avoid demolition.

"My mind is racing with ideas of how we can develop a program of benevolence and help," said Development Services Director BJ Teal. "I think we could do so much internally with people helping people."

Contact Emily Le Coz at (662) 678-1588 or emily.lecoz@djournal.com. Also read Emily's blog, The Government Grind, at www.NEMS360.com