Storm Recovery Continues

A series of storms this spring has left two Mississippi organizations recovering from damage.

Methodist Senior Services, headquartered in Tupelo, suffered extensive damage to its Traceway campus. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Dozens of trees were damaged or lost. Virtually every Traceway building suffered roof or tree damage, and a section of ceiling collapsed in one as a result of the April 28 tornado. Roof replacement and building repair is ongoing, and employees displaced by the collapsed roof have been working from other locations on campus.

For more than half a century, MSS has provided housing and services to older adults in Mississippi. It has one mission: to serve older adults in the spirit of Christian love. Their approximately 1,000 employees and 1,600 volunteers make that mission their prime focus. Today, MSS serves more than 1,700 elders in our 12 independent living, personal care and skilled nursing care retirement communities, with campuses that range from almost the Tennessee line to the Gulf of Mexico.

The Baddour Center in Senatobia was hit by hail and damaging straight-line winds in late June, damaging trees, residences and the garden center. Baddour is a model residential community for adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. Meaningful employment supplements the unique residential lifestyle, and both provide an atmosphere where residents are free to grow intellectually, spiritually, physically, socially, emotionally and vocationally. Both organizations were blessed by a host of volunteers who helped.