WHITELAND, Ind. — At Whiteland Community High School, on what should have been their first day back from spring break, nearly 200 Clark-Pleasant teachers and staff boarded school buses to share a life lesson with their community.
Tornado damage canceled classes Monday, so instead, this small army of Whiteland Warriors set out to help their neighbors in need.
Monica Lemon, a kindergarten teacher at Pleasant Crossing Elementary, has spent her entire 35-year teaching career in Whiteland.
She said she had to be there for these families.
"Because if this happened to me, I’d want someone to come and help me — do unto others — and this is my community where I work and teach and love these kids and love the families," Lemon said. "That's why. All these people are taking the time out to come and help and just to show the love — love for the community, for our people for our school corporation.”
The work they did Monday is physical.
The damage – extensive.
Trees and debris are scattered all over the Park Forest neighborhood.
David Edens, Whiteland’s athletic director, lives in the neighborhood. His house escaped serious damage, but he's part of the team helping out.
"I grew up here. I’m from here. This is what you do around here," Edens said. "When there’s a need, we fill it."
There’s a lot to fill. Glenn and Debbie Gant's home is missing a roof. The windows blew out. The entire structure is totally open to the elements.
Yet the couple survived the storm.
So did their neighbors, the Mendez family.
“We were up in this bedroom right here where the chimney is," Megan Mendez said, “and then my husband, he starts screaming 'Run!' and we were all upstairs, we have five kids and we ran downstairs.”
They’re now staying in a hotel. Her youngest child needs oxygen, and there’s no power.
But there is a powerful sense of gratitude Mendez has for these school volunteers.
“We just moved here in September, so to see how the town of Whiteland is surrounding everybody, I’m glad to be here," she said. “All these people out here, shows you you’re in a good place.”
Warriors, helping Whiteland recover.
“You make the most of what you can control," Edens said, "and what you can control right now is cleaning up and helping people out."
The Town of Whiteland is under a curfew from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. for nonessential travel to keep emergency personnel and the community safe. The town is also still under a water boil advisory for residents who get their water through Whiteland Utilities.
Those interested in volunteering to help Whiteland tornado victims or anyone in the community in need of help or resources can contact 317-671-6521 or email whitelandtornadorelief@gmail.com.
Those looking to make financial donations to help the Whiteland tornado victims can do so through the Johnson County Community Foundation.
Clark-Pleasant Schools will be closed again Tuesday and Wednesday. Whiteland Community High School's principal said his staff will likely be out again both days, volunteering.
School officials said Thursday and Friday will be on modified schedule, which will include the middle school and high school having e-learning and elementary students attending in-person as normal. Clark-Pleasant Early Learning Center will not have classes the remainder of the week.
Dumpsters have been placed around the town and are available 24 hours a day for residents to use.
An ice station will be available to residents beginning Tuesday, April 4 after 8 a.m. in the Whiteland Community High School parking lot, located at 300 E. Main St.
Also, a family resource center will be available beginning Tuesday, April 4 for affected residents to connect with providers on navigating resources available to help them through this time. The family resource center will be located at the Clark-Pleasant Community School Corporation Administration Building at 50 Center St. and will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Residents who need supplies from donated items can pick them up beginning Tuesday, April 4 at Heaven & Earth Church, located at 309 E. Main St., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.