When a Tornado Strikes Close to Home Tornado Relief Efforts Draw College, Network Volunteers Dayton-area residents were stunned when powerful tornadoes ripped through the region the night of May 27. The devastation was severe: Storms downed trees, destroyed hundreds of houses and apartment buildings, and knocked out power to 77,000 residents. Weather service investigators estimated that 15 tornadoes struck west central Ohio that night, and some of the hardest hit neighborhoods were in Dayton. One tornado had winds topping 140 mph; another swept across Interstate 75, leaving a trail of debris that had to be cleared with snowplows.
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Local volunteers began mobilizing immediately, providing food, water, household items, and clean-up in the days and weeks following the disaster. Among them were students, faculty, and staff from Kettering College, who teamed up with local churches and others from Kettering Health Network. Twenty-one students from the radiologic sciences and imaging program’s class of 2020 volunteered at two disaster sites. The devastation was shocking, said radiology instructor Idamae Jenkins.
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“We were clearing debris near a hotel that had been badly damaged and realized that glass from the hotel windows had been embedded in the lawn,” Jenkins said. “Tree trunks had been ripped from the ground, and several telephone poles were down. Structures and cars were smashed. It felt like we were in another country.”
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F E AT U R E D
1 | The devastation was severe—the storms downed 1,400 trees, and destroyed hundreds of houses and apartment buildings.
Senior Stacy Haines organized the outing. “Even though we are an extremely busy group with 24 hours of clinicals and 12 hours of classes each week, we have the heart and the will to help out whenever needed,” Haines said. “We couldn’t think of any better way to spend a day out of clinicals than to help our neighbors.” Faculty, staff, and students from the enrollment services department and occupational therapy program partnered with St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church to assemble and deliver meals in Trotwood, where tornadoes had displaced hundreds of people from their homes. “What really breaks my heart is that some of these tornadoes affected neighborhoods where people were already struggling,” said Jonathan Blackburn, an admissions counselor at Kettering College. “These people are going to require a lot of help to get back on their feet.” In the three weeks after the storms, about 90 volunteers from Kettering Health Network, including many from the College, helped St. Margaret’s to prepare and deliver 6,500 meals. “The seemingly simple meals were huge for families who lost everything or were living without water and power to their homes,” said Courtney Haas, missions coordinator at Kettering Health Network. “The groups and individuals from Kettering College who took part in this initiative were a great support.”
2 | Jonathan Blackburn, an admissions counselor at Kettering College, helps pack meals to hand out to those affected by the Memorial Day weekend tornadoes.
3 | The enrollment services department and student life team partnered with Kettering Health Network missions department to pack meals one afternoon to help provide meals to those in need.
KETTERING COLLEGE CELEBRATES 11TH ANNUAL
SPRING INTO HEALTH 5K On April 7, Kettering College hosted the 11th annual Spring into Health 5K. With more than 400 runners and walkers, the event raised $10,000 for Good Neighbor House, a nonprofit organization providing food pantry services, clothing, and household items to individuals and families in the Dayton region. Students in the physician assistant (PA) program have been the primary organizers of the event, encouraging healthy living through the 5K and wellness fair. Twentyfive percent of the proceeds go toward the Physician Assistant Student Professional Development Fund. This year, they added a silent auction. “The Spring into Health 5K is a perfect representation of our dedication to our community,” said Connor Wolfe, PA class president. “It was incredible to see over 400 community members register to run, engage
in friendly bidding wars at our silent auction, and spend time with family at our Wellness and Fun Fair.” Students, parents, children, and community members participated in the fair under sunny skies and a few puffy clouds. David Nelson, director of construction management at Kettering Health Network, won the race again this year with a time of 16:22, with Daniel Siebenaller, a 2019 PA graduate, following close behind. The top three finishers in each age group received awards.
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Over the past 11 years, the Spring into Health 5K event has raised $98,000, more than $75,000 of which has been donated to Good Neighbor House. “No matter how Good Neighbor House chooses to allocate those funds, we know the donation is in good hands and will positively benefit many of our neighbors,” Wolfe said. 2
F E AT U R E D
1 | Over 400 runners and walkers participated in Kettering College’s annual Spring into Health 5K event.
2 | The 5K event is pet friendly!
3 | Volunteers help runners register and get their packets before the 5K.
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kettering college
THE 2 0 2 0 S P R I NG I NTO H E ALT H 5K I S ON AP RI L 5.
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