My name is Sherrill Wayland and on Saturday, May 24th, I went out for the first time to volunteer with Tornado Relief Efforts in North St. Louis City. My job was to help deliver warm meals to older adults and conduct a survey to help determine if their home had been damaged during the tornado, see if they have electricity, and if there are any other critical needs they have.

Each person we met was grateful for the warm meal and for being checked on. Neighbor helping neighbor is in full force across the city.

The destruction of homes and businesses in North St. Louis City is beyond devastating. Many of my friends have been out on the streets for over a week now helping with recovery efforts.

One need we keep hearing about is charging banks for cell phones. My friends shared how traumatic it has been for folks without power, who feel unsafe and isolated without power and no way to keep their phones charged in case there is an emergency.

I’m asking friends and family to pitch in and help me buy a supply of solar-powered charging banks for the older adults my friends are supporting.

A donation of $20 will buy one solar-powered phone charging bank. I will hand-deliver all of the solar-powered phone banks to my colleagues with the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging, who are helping to make sure older adults in the city have the support they need.

Thank you, friends and family, for considering this donation request.