In April, Brandi Clowers was named Greer Lingle Middle School’s Teacher of the Year. In May, she wore a headlamp to recover students’ supplies inside her tornado-ravaged classroom.
“The sounds that reign in my head these days are chainsaws, buzzsaws and nail guns,” Clowers said of life following the 1.7-mile-wide storm that tore through a section of Rogers, Arkansas, May 26. “Every time you drive to this side of town, it’s like a gut punch.”
‘This side of town’ resembled a path of twisted metal, toppled trees and downed power lines. The other side? Virtually untouched.
Jaclyn Henderson’s childhood memories are tied to the former.
“That’s the part of Rogers where I grew up,” said the Commercial Banking leader and market executive for Regions Bank in Northwest Arkansas. “It was more emotional than I expected because that’s where my grandparents live. They are okay; they were lucky.”
Knowing many others weren’t as lucky inspired Henderson and Clowers to join forces to help. The two have known each other since Clowers taught Henderson’s daughter five years ago.
“The teachers were making a list of items to buy when I reached out to Jaclyn and asked if we could take food to people near the school who were impacted,” said Clowers. “She was on it in less than 24 hours. It was amazing.”
Bank associates from across several business groups helped deliver hot meals within five miles of the school. Consumer Banking manager Troy Dryzga (right) was among them.
For Henderson, there was no alternative.
“There are a lot of elderly people in those neighborhoods,” she said. “Many couldn’t get out of their houses. They had no power, no phone service, no access to food. Of course, we said ‘Yes.”
And by ‘we,’ Henderson means her Regions teammates (see more below), as well as Rogers High School volleyball and Elmwood Middle School football team members. Her daughter and son play on each. Football players from across Rogers’ school districts helped with sorting donations at a temporary shelter and packing up students’ desks when the school year abruptly ended.
As the community’s needs grew, so did the number of volunteers.
“We had a lot of turnout from the Lingle staff, and there were Lingle students who rode their bikes over and asked if they could help,” Henderson said of the food distribution day. “Everyone brought coolers and wagons. I learned if you want something done efficiently, sic a group of teachers on it.”
In short order, Regions team members grilled 1,200 hotdogs. While some neighbors picked up the sack lunches and water – their first hot meal in four days – most were delivered on foot by student-athletes and teachers, including Clowers.
The Regions team grilled 1,200 hot dogs for the sack lunches.
People came up to us teary-eyed and said, ‘Thank you so much for a hot meal.’Jaclyn Henderson, Commercial Banking leader and market executive for Regions Bank in Northwest Arkansas
“We walked streets that were just demolished,” she said. “We went door-to-door delivering food in that wagon for five miles. I realized that day I had never really walked my streets before. You look at people differently when you’re going door-to-door doing wellness checks.”
Those on the receiving end saw people differently, too. Once strangers were now neighbors.
“People came up to us teary-eyed and said, ‘Thank you so much for a hot meal,’” said Henderson. “Many we served shared how nice it was to just see a friendly face and told us how much they needed this.”
Clowers has found a silver lining in the weeks following the storm, too.
“As bad as this is, it’s really pulled us together as a staff,” she said. “It’s shown we’re better and stronger than this. We always pray for this, pray for that, but we need to realize God gives us opportunities to be our best.”
The Greer Lingle teachers know the coming school year will look very different given classes will be held in trailers and pods due to the school’s extensive damage.
Members of the Rogers High School volleyball team also lent their support with lunch deliveries.
Foremost on Clowers’ mind?
“How are we going to make this the best year ever for our kids?” she asks. “We know we can do it academically, but what about emotionally and socially?”
One thing Clowers knows is the people of Rogers will be there to lend support when the time comes. People like Jaclyn Henderson.
“Jaclyn is a hometown girl,” she said. “The moment I asked her for help, she said, ‘We’re going to get this done for my community, for our community.’”
Community – it’s an often-used word. Clowers has observed what it means when it’s put into action.
“This community will give and give until they can’t give anymore,” she said. “I knew I lived someplace special when I moved here 23 years ago; but for the first time, I realized this is my home. I’m not just a sixth-grade teacher; I’m more than that. I’m part of this community. The hugs just feel different now.”
Additional Regions Associates Share Their Perspective:
“Rogers is a community where many identities come together and form something greater than the sum of its parts. This is home and kindness is our cornerstone. We’re proud to partner with the school district to support our neighbors through acts of service at a time they need it most.”
–Stan Rodgers, Commercial Banking relationship manager
“I wanted to help with the tornado relief because not only did I have friends affected, but a large portion of our branch customers were also affected by the storm. We had customers who lost their homes, were without power for several days and some whose small businesses were affected. Our team was eager to provide support in whatever way we could. Being out in the community, seeing all the damage and hearing everyone’s stories firsthand was very eye-opening. It was heartwarming to see our community come together and provide so much support to area families.”
–Hallie Hannaman, manager, Regions’ Dixieland branch
“Knowing people personally impacted by the tornado shapes your perspective. The fact we were able to mobilize as quickly and effectively as we did to connect with so many affected community members speaks to the spirit, generosity and desire of everyone wanting to help. Volunteering with so many associates across our lines of business really makes you proud to be on team Regions because it demonstrates our culture and shows our people really care.”
–Troy Dryzga, Consumer Banking manager, Arkansas