The church quickly became the go-to place after the tornado tore through the town.
FILE | 06.04.2011 | Volunteer James Demers of Brimfield, center, grills hamburgers for utility crews, residents and other volunteers helping clean up the town at the First Church of Monson, which had its steeple blown off by the June 1 tornado. MONSON – The First Church of Monson, which has coordinated the volunteer effort following the June 1 tornado, is ending operations Friday, and will be serving its last dinner at the High Street church from 5 to 7 p.m. that night.
The church quickly became the go-to place after the tornado tore through the town, and has provided food, supplies and more to residents in need. Outreach coordinator Ted Sisley said the pantry downstairs will remain open during the Farmers’ Market on Thursdays, from 3 to 7 p.m., as well as on Saturday mornings, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“We’ve done more than we expected to do. It’s time for us to go back to being a church,” Sisley said. “If the need comes back, we’ll probably open back up again.”
Volunteer coordinators Lynn M. Taylor, of Palmer, and Alison C. Hill, of Monson, will carry on the volunteer coordination through the Internet, instead of a tent at the church. They said they will post on the Facebook page “Monson Tornado Watch 2011” and are creating a new Monson tornado volunteers group so they can continue helping those affected by the tornado.
“We’ll also be driving around making sure people have water and sandwiches,” Taylor said.
“The two of us are willing to stick it out for the long haul,” Hill said.
Sandra E. Harris, who is the kitchen coordinator for the church, estimates they have served “thousands” of meals since the tornado struck, between breakfasts, lunches and dinners, to sending meals off-site. Any food left over after July 1 that cannot be kept for the pantry will go to charity, she said.
As for Harris, she said she is looking forward to an upcoming vacation.
“People need to get back to normal,” Harris said.
Russell Bressette Jr. talks with Heather L. Emery. Behind him is what is left of his house on Stewart Avenue in Monson. The tornado picked it up and moved it 30 feet, he said.
Russell Bressette Jr., whose home on Stewart Avenue in Monson was leveled by the tornado, has moved into a new temporary home on Crest Road with the help of local Realtor Karen King. She has been linking families with new housing. Bressette, a school bus driver, said when he returned to work, the students surprised him with a mall gift card, Dunkin’ Donuts gift certificates and 15 new ties, because they know he likes ties.
“The kids were totally awesome. They held a fundraiser for me,” Bressette said.
Bressette said he will rebuild on Stewart Avenue, and is thankful to the many volunteers, some he didn’t even know, who came in the days after the tornado to help him salvage items such as pictures, wedding albums, his late wife’s wedding dress.
“I could never thank them enough. It was just incredible for me,” Bressette said.
“Houses are material things,” Bressette said. “I will be back, stronger than ever.”