A team of Tzu Chi volunteers conducts a disaster assessment mission after a devastating, mile-wide EF-3 tornado sweeps through portions of St. Louis, Missouri, causing extensive damage. Photo/Tzu Chi USA St. Louis Service Center
SHARE
“I heard hail hitting the window, so I look outside and I see debris swirling around. I mean, big debris — bricks, tires, pieces of trees, pieces of roof, everything,” said John Pitts, a tornado survivor from St. Louis, Missouri. “I go try to open the front door, and the door slammed closed: Boom!” he continued the harrowing tale. “The house is shaking. I’m saying to myself, ‘Well, look here, Lord… If this is the way I go, I surrender.’ And something said, ‘Don’t move,’ and I didn’t move, and the house fell down around me.”
St. Louis Strong
From May 15 to 16, 2025, a series of devastating tornadoes swept across the Midwestern and Southern United States, leaving thousands of people in the dark, overturning vehicles, and shattering homes. Among the hardest hit was Greater St. Louis, where a mile-wide EF-3 tornado cut a destructive 20-mile path, leaving behind more than $1.6 billion in damage, and a community deeply in mourning. Federal Emergency Management Agency officials have described the destruction as the largest-scale residential disaster they have surveyed in Missouri since the 2011 Joplin tornado — some of the highest figures for an individual tornado on record.
In the days that followed, between May 17 and 18, volunteers from Tzu Chi USA’s Midwest Region bounded into action, convening to confirm their disaster assessment strategy, and setting off without delay. The team of volunteers conducted careful on-the-ground assessments after identifying hard-hit regions between Clayton and St. Louis, including Central West End, DeBaliviere Place, The Ville, Penrose, O’Fallon, and Forest Park.
Near Delmar Boulevard, the volunteers found destruction at every turn. Then, upon traveling to Delhaven Manor Nursing Center, home to around 80 residents with mobility challenges, a staff member named Mark shared the storm’s impact: The center lost all power on that frightening afternoon, and its windows were damaged. All residents, however, were swiftly evacuated to alternative shelters that could accommodate their needs.
As the volunteers continued, they saw more devastation, with entire portions of brick homes and businesses torn apart. Nearby, residents like Jujean Flakes showed the team how a massive tree from two homes away had been uprooted, crushing his roof and chimney. In the Clayton area, volunteers met resident Coby Parks, whose roof was also destroyed by a fallen tree.
On May 18, volunteers went deep into another severely affected St. Louis community, Fountain Park, where the roof of Centennial Christian Church had collapsed, resulting in the death of a beloved church and community volunteer.
At every turn, debris blanketed the sidewalks.
Operating closely with the American Red Cross to more fully assess the scope of the situation, Tzu Chi volunteers additionally worked to guide residents in registering damages to their homes through local Multi-Agency Resource Center services.
Following careful assessments, fundraising efforts, compiling survivor registries, and preparing for relief, Tzu Chi’s St. Louis Service Center held its first round of distributions on July 19–20, 2025, delivering much-needed support in the form of cash cards, warm eco-blankets, scarves, and an attentive ear with sincere, heartfelt care.
This relief effort mobilized 40 volunteers in total — 35 from the local community, and five who traveled over 300 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to provide their assistance in person. The distribution took place at the St. Louis Service Center, just a short drive from the hardest-hit communities. Altogether, $156,200 in Tzu Chi’s emergency relief was provided to 214 households, benefiting 624 individuals.
According to Linda Lui, Deputy Director of the St. Louis Service Center, many homes were either completely destroyed or severely damaged, leaving residents vulnerable to theft and exposure. “Many disaster survivors are homeless, so they must find places to stay. Some people dare not leave their homes, fearing that thieves will break in and steal their belongings, but the houses are moldy, and living inside is harmful to their health,” said Lui with emotion. “They are truly in a very difficult situation.”
Lui expressed special thanks for all the support received in this endeavor, and shared that volunteers from Chicago brought blankets, food, and stayed to assist with the distribution work for the full two days. After the tornado, Lui had also driven alongside volunteers to survey the damage. “It took about 15 to 20 minutes by car to get there,” she said. “When we saw the severe damage at the scene, we immediately launched relief efforts, including street fundraising and coordinating with various groups to compile a list of disaster survivors, ultimately registering over 300 households.”
Chong Hsieh, Executive Director of Tzu Chi USA’s Midwest Region, additionally explained that this was their second tornado relief mission in St. Louis in 2025, with the prior being a deadly tornado outbreak in March.
Hsieh reflected on the St. Louis metropolitan area’s long history of destructive tornadoes, with more tornado fatalities occurring in St. Louis than in any other city in the United States. “The Red Cross provided us with data showing that over 5,000 households were either completely or partially destroyed. In fact, many people are still staying in hotels or even camping outdoors. It’s truly heartbreaking,” said Hsieh. “We hope to continue bringing love and care. The disaster has spread widely. This time, the storm actually stretched from St. Louis, Missouri, all the way to Kentucky. Last week, we also distributed aid in Kentucky, which was hit by the same series of tornadoes. This is truly terrifying.” Once more, the hardest-hit neighborhoods were those of historically underserved communities.
We hope everyone can continue to pray, and bring love and care to more corners of suffering, making this world more peaceful.
Hsieh commended the volunteers who stepped forward to aid those affected by this tragedy, and thanked Tzu Chi’s Chicago volunteers for bringing both experience and supplies.
The atmosphere at Tzu Chi’s service center deeply moved the disaster survivors present at the distribution as well, many expressing gratitude to Tzu Chi and its founder, Master Cheng Yen, for the warmth that filled the space. After reading Master Cheng Yen’s letter, too, some care recipients were moved to tears.
A Grandmother’s Gratitude
“We’re blessed, and we’re also blessed to have people like you guys to look out for people like us, because it’s really been a tough road for a lot of people coming back, trying to bounce back. So, I want to say to this organization, you guys have just been a big key to the community, and I would like to volunteer sometime and help you guys out,” shared a care recipient named Tonya Davis. “The money that you guys gave me today is a big help because I have an autistic grandchild, and she lost a lot of technology, things that she uses for computer-based stuff. I’m going to see if we could find and put down a deposit on a house, and just basically get some of the items that we weren’t able to get and recover in the storm. This is really a blessing for our family, and believe me, we’re going to use it wisely. I honestly appreciate that. Me and my grandkids, we really appreciate it.”
And what I like, you guys are helping everyone, every race, every creed, and every color. So I want to tell you, thank you for St. Louis. We appreciate your help.
Davis also enthusiastically expressed her desire to give back after this experience, saying, “I spoke to your headquarters office in California. They were very, very nice, and I learned a lot about this organization. You guys help people all around the world, and I think that is a beautiful thing,” she said with a smile. “And I know you guys are going to be leaving us soon, but guess what? Your office is based here, and now that I know you’re here, I would love to stop by, and anything I could do, even with recycling those bottles and getting these good blankets going, that is a blessing, and I really appreciate it.”
Survival Amidst the Chaos
Randy Fields, another tornado survivor, recounted the rapid transformation just moments before the tornado hit, saying, “First, it was like a normal day, and it was close to about three o’clock, and we got the word that a tornado was coming,” said Fields. “I made it home, and after I made it home, my phone started going off, and I called my mom. I said, ‘Mom, what are you doing?’ And she says, ‘Looking at TV.’ I said, ‘Mom, a tornado is about to hit now, right now. Go in the basement.’” He paused, remembering, “It came through like, oh my God, like King Kong or something. It was just frightening. All the dust in the basement came alive, and after that, you hear bombs going off and explosions — that’s what it sounds like. After that, you come outside, after the sound subsides, and then when you get outside, those bombs and explosions were bricks falling off the houses, hitting the ground, trees falling, and boards being propelled through people’s doors across the street. There was so much stuff going on that when you came outside, everybody’s mouth was open. It was like the same reaction as if we had just been in a war.” Now would begin the process of clearing away that destruction, said Fields, so repairs could begin. “I’m just thankful to God that I’m alive and able to help myself and help others. I think that’s one of the main things when some disasters happen. People need to pull together, and that’s been happening.”
Fields also expressed how deeply touched he was by the distribution, saying, “When people are suffering, the money shouldn’t matter. I really appreciate how everyone is together, uniform, smiling, and very considerate and compassionate. It’s very appreciated. And I can’t wait to give back,” he smiled and held up his blue and white bamboo bank. “I just want to appreciate Tzu Chi. It helps people very well. It’s been helping people for years, and I just learned that. It’s a very good lesson for people to learn how to prepare, and how to help others in the future, just by the example that’s been set here.”
Tears and Gratitude
“As soon as I got up, the tornado came through my window where I was sitting,” said Wyvon Boykin. “All of the beams and trees and everything came exactly to where I was sitting. If I hadn’t stood up and moved, I would have gotten impaled and sucked back out the window. I slid down the stairs. You can see my arm from me sliding,” Boykin held up the back of his forearm, revealing the injury. “I made it to the kitchen, and then I slid down the basement stairs. That’s where I got to the central part, and I got in the fetal position and just waited for it to pass. It was very scary. I never heard a sound like that in my life.”
I’d just like to say, if anyone is listening: Tzu Chi, they’re the best. I’ve never met a group of people that actually care. It’s not just about the money. It’s not just about status. You actually care. And I thank you.
“I haven’t met anyone that kind to me since I was a kid. So, you guys have touched my heart. I’ll be coming around because what you guys are doing is amazing. I’ve never met such kind people from the heart. I haven’t. You guys almost make me want to cry a little bit because of what I really went through,” Boykin said, taking a moment. “How you’re helping me… I just want to thank you.”
Rebuilding Is Hard Work
Tammy Lynn Price’s home was also damaged in the storm when a large tree came crashing down, crushing the roof, shattering windows, and damaging a fence that surrounded the home.
“So I got several tarps on top of the roof right now, keeping the rain out, and I’m still working on trying to get a new roof,” Price told volunteers. “My electricity got not only cut off — the whole entire electric system got pulled away from the wall. So, I’ve got a lot of issues going on right now.” The damage was overwhelming. However, Price is still living in this house, and hopes to continue doing so, taking the reconstruction process day by day.
“I appreciate you guys. It helps. Everything helps,” said Price. “I don’t have words for that. They’re so kind. They’re so nice. I really appreciate everything that they have done for me here. Everything helps, little by little, it does help… Don’t give up. Just take it one day at a time. Like the lady told me in there, God’s good. There’s always somebody else worse off than I am. So I’m going to just try to do that. Just take it one day at a time. Just do what I can do.”
I really appreciate everything that they have done for me up here. Everything helps little by little. It does help. I got good donations, and I got a blanket. So I’m happy. It takes me to the next thing where I need to get to. So I’m very grateful for the assistance today. I really am. I appreciate it.
Moving Forward Together
“We try our best to make them happy, give them comfort and hope, and hope they can return to their daily lives,” said St. Louis Service Center Deputy Director Linda Lui. “Now there are many disasters, and I first want to express my gratitude to Master Cheng Yen for giving us the opportunity to contribute, bringing comfort to disaster survivors, and providing timely assistance.” Lui also expressed her gratitude to all the volunteers for their dedication, enabling the successful completion of this distribution effort.
This is the first time I’ve learned anything about your organization. Everybody needs help at one time or another, and sometimes there’s nobody out there to help people, but luckily, we have Tzu Chi to help. Thank you very much.
Indeed, this relief effort is not just about providing material aid; it is also about nurturing seeds of love and compassion so they may grow and flourish across communities. After disasters, the road to recovery is often winding. Yet, it can be made smoother with those who truly care at your side.
May our compassion reach every corner of the world. May it bathe sentient beings in happiness like the soft and gentle touch of moonlight.
