Spalding Residents Thankful For Storm Volunteers

GRIFFIN, Ga.,None — Recovery efforts continued Saturday in Spalding County thanks to countless volunteers.

Channel 2's Mike Petchenik caught up with one group in the Ponderosa Trailer Park in Griffin, Ga., where the park's owner estimates the tornado damaged or completely destroyed about 30 homes.

A church group volunteered Saturday to help get residents of the trailer park back on their feet.

"Even in the midst of tragedy and destruction, I thank God to be alive," Pansy Nichols said.

It took a tornado just seconds to destroy Nichols' trailer. "One of the other trailers just blew completely against it," she said.

It will take much longer for Nichols and her husband, Jimmy, to bounce back.

Pics: Volunteers Help With Clean Up In Spalding County

"All of this can be rebuilt. God will send people like he has," Pansy Nichols said.

Petchenik caught up with the couple at the trailer park while following volunteers from Griffin's Center Point Church who delivered supplies to victims across Spalding County.

"I can't believe all these people are out here. They don't know us from Adam," Jimmy Nichols said.

A few miles away Petchenik found the Peavy family picking up.

"Were just trying to salvage what we can and what's left our house,' Stacey Peavy said. They too benefited from the kindness of strangers.

"It's wonderful. Didn't know there were so many nice people," Peavy said.

"We've been tarping homes, providing water, Gatorade, food, life essentials … We're helping, literally it's in the hundreds," the Rev. Tracy Stone said, who is overseeing the volunteer effort.

For victims such as the Nichols', the help didn't come a moment too soon.

"This has renewed my faith in humanity," Jimmy Nichols said.

President Barack Obama declared Spalding County a disaster area, along with 15 other counties in Georgia.

Now people who live in the county can apply for federal disaster assistance, including grants for temporary housing and home repairs.

WSBTV