Alabama church rebuilds first R3SM house after tornado

PETAL, MS. - Church volunteers from Alabama are lending a helping hand rebuilding a house in Petal this week.

A mission group from New Oregon United Methodist Church teamed up with R3SM, a long term disaster recovery organization in Hattiesburg.

The group is rebuilding a house that was destroyed from the EF-3 tornado in January. R3SM Volunteer Director Chris Adams said its the first rebuild by the organization since the tornado.

Mission Director Jeff Boatwright said every year the church rebuilds one house. According to Boatwright this is the 28th house the church has rebuilt.

“They (volunteers) take the sense of pride but also a sense of knowing that they went and self-lessly gave up their selves to help others and that is what its all about" said Boatwright.

R3SM has funded 34 houses through the Greater Pine Belt Community Foundation. Out of those 34 homes, 14 are rebuilds and the rest are repairs.