Former Jasper, Mo., Resident Returns to Help Tornado Victims

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Former Jasper resident Sonya Petroski hangs clothes in tornado relief efforts.

HOBBS, NM (07/05/2011)(readMedia)-- The historic, tragic tornado in Joplin, Mo., was of personal significance to University of the Southwest's Volleyball Coach Sonya Petroski because she grew up in the area. So when Petroski took her summer vacation, she traveled to Joplin to volunteer in the recovery efforts and to deliver a truckload of items donated by University of the Southwest staff and other Lea County residents.

"The USW community was wonderful in giving," said Petroski, who has been on the USW staff since last spring. Petroski of Jasper, Mo., and her husband, Chris, delivered four boxes of personal hygiene items, two boxes of baby items, hats, small household items, bandanas and ear plugs and cash donations.

University of the Southwest is New Mexico's only fully accredited Christ-centered university. Located in Hobbs, USW offers bachelor's degree program in Hobbs and fully online bachelor's and master's degree programs.

The material items were presented to a donation distribution center and the cash donations were provided to Ben DeJager, Ashley Roberts and their daughter, Addie DeJager, who lost their home in the tornado.

Longtime friends to the Petroskis, Ashley Roberts, survived a direct hit of the tornado to a nursing home where she worked, Petroski said.

"The nursing home ended up losing about 13 workers and residents," Petroski said. "After the tornado had passed, my friend climbed out from underneath a lot of debris with a broken arm. When she came out from the rubble she saw the wall she was up against was the only wall left standing at the nursing home."

In addition to providing support to her friends, Petroski and her husband volunteered for the overall relief efforts. The couple and some of their friends helped sort food items at College Heights Christian Church. They also volunteered at The Hope Chest by sorting semi truck loads, hanging clothing and organizing donations.

"The impact of seeing the damage this tornado has done is very overwhelming," said Petroski who made her first volunteer trip five days after the May 22 tornado. "It has really made me appreciate the things I have and I have learned to value each day God gives me."

But it was also humbling to see the amount of support that poured into Joplin in the days following-support from outsiders and support from those who survived the tornado. "It has been difficult to get those affected to accept the help and donations. People keep saying 'oh no, I don't need that, give it to someone else. There are others in worse shape than me'," said Petroski who described Joplin as primarily a working class town.

Her friendship with Joplin residents and watching them persevere over a traumatic event will continue to influence her role as USW's volleyball coach, Petroski said.

"I feel a large part of being a student leader is making sacrifices in order to make a positive impact on the world around you," she said. "It is my goal to help the team see how they can make a positive impact in the world around them."