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Smithville Mayor Gregg Kennedy, right, and Alderman Jimmy
Dabbs, third from left, accept a truck donated by AT&T alongside
company representatives on Saturday. AT&T has helped Smithville
since the April 27 tornado destroyed much of the town. (DANZA JOHNSON | DAILY JOURNAL)
Randy Parker unloads wood donated by Norbord. Norbord, a
company out of Guntown, has donated three loads of wood to
Smithville to help with the rebuilding of the tornado-ravaged town. (DANZA JOHNSON | DAILY JOURNAL)
On Saturday, AT&T and Norbord LTD made significant donations to the town to help with community building.
AT&T Pioneers, a group of retired and current AT&T employees who provide community service, donated a much-needed work truck to the town and purchased 18 sets of football pads for the town’s 9- and 10-year-old youth football team.
Casey Hollaway, a member of Smithville’s junior football league, said funds have been low and the donation from AT&T helps get the ball rolling.
“We got new pads for our 11- and 12-year-olds but we didn’t have the money for the other two teams,” said Hollaway. “We were able to buy 18 sets of pads for all of the boys on the team. This is a big plus.”
Smithville Alderman Jimmy Dabbs said the truck AT&T donated to the water department has been an asset to the community since the storm. And this truck will be an asset as well.
“AT&T has been here with us helping since the day after the storm hit,” said Dabbs. “They have really been a blessing for our community and we can’t thank them enough.”
Norbord, based in Guntown, produces oriented strand board used in home construction. Saturday’s load was the third one donated by Norbord. Each truckload is 990 boards and will build 10 1,200-square-foot homes on a concrete slab foundation.
Like many others in Smithville, Patty Parker, director of the Monroe County United Way, lost her home. Now, as director of the nonprofit, she distributes the wood to families who need it.
“We have had some fantastic donations like the one Norbord is making today,” said Parker. “Some people would not be able to start rebuilding their homes without this material. We are grateful to Norbord and everyone else who has helped Smithville during this time of need.”
Parker said the United Way has assisted more than 450 families since the storm and are currently helping about 260.
danza.johnson@journalinc.com