This article was written by Reynolds and Reynolds employee Jessica R. who helped raise money and volunteered in the community after tornadoes struck the Dayton area. 

They weren’t joking when they said it sounds like a freight train.

As my sister and I sat hunched over our dogs in the bathtub, the wind outside roared and our house began to shake. Blinds rattling against closed windows. Debris crashing down on our roof.

No more than 90 seconds in pitch black darkness before it was over and we tiptoed toward the front door. It was hard to see the impact that only one of the 19 confirmed tornadoes that touched down Memorial Day evening left behind, but with daylight came the devastating realization of just how bad it was.

The better part of the following morning was spent working alongside neighbors to cut down and move fallen branches, trees, and pick up trash that had been strewn about. A few of my neighbors lost their roofs and others had windows blown in, but thankfully, no one was harmed or permanently displaced. We were very lucky.

With initial cleanup efforts done in my own neighborhood, I surveyed the damage of streets and houses in my surrounding area and that’s when I knew there were people who had been hit by the worst of the tornadoes and needed help badly.

I immediately created a Facebook fundraiser to start raising money for supplies people needed most: bottled water, non-perishable food items, personal hygiene products, baby items, heavy duty trash bags, and work gloves. Within a few hours I’d raised $150, which quickly grew to $250, and eventually topped out at almost $400. To say the Dayton community jumped at the opportunity to help those affected by the tornadoes is a vast understatement.

With the money raised from the fundraiser, and both monetary and physical donations from our fellow Reynolds associates, my colleague Amanda and I were able to purchase and distribute items directly to tornado victims. We packed our trunks full and drove from Brookville to Trotwood to Northridge to Dayton. One day after work we stopped to help a street of houses that had severe damage but were still being occupied by families with nowhere else to go.

Though devastated by the tornadoes, almost everyone we spoke to shared similar feelings of gratitude. One person we spoke to said, “We are absolutely blown away by the outpouring of support from people.”

Amanda and I are extremely fortunate to have been able to help where we could, but we kindly ask that you not forget there is still more work to be done. As Dayton begins the rebuilding phase, please remember to check on those who lost everything. There are people who still need help. At this time, gift cards and cash donations are needed and most and can be dropped off at your local Red Cross.

We are, and will always be, #DaytonStrong.