Menasha, WI – One month after an EF‑3 tornado ripped through the Fox Valley on July 27, volunteers are still on Doty Island working to clear debris and help neighbors rebuild. The volunteer effort, organized by the nonprofit group Volunteer Fox Cities, has become a lifeline for families whose homes and yards were damaged.
Neighbors lend a hand
Jean Moore, a senior citizen who lives on Doty Island, described the damage to her property: two trees fell in her yard and a few windows were shattered. “I’ve been very lucky, I’m a senior on basic income right now. I’ve really needed some help, yard work, and throughout the process we’ve had so many volunteers,” Moore said. She added that the volunteers have been essential in getting her home back to a livable condition.
Volunteer coordination
Volunteer Fox Cities issued an urgent request for additional help with debris pickup through Friday, aiming to finish the work before the city’s final storm‑debris collection day on August 28. Crew manager Eric Kilman praised the community response, noting that the turnout exceeded expectations, especially on a weekday. “We’ve had a great response; I was surprised so many people came out on a weekday. This last Saturday we had a bunch of people and it was great,” he said.
More than cleanup
According to Kilman, the work is about more than just removing branches and broken glass. “The people are so happy just to get a little bit of normalcy, a clean lawn, that’s all it takes sometimes,” he explained. The volunteers’ presence has lifted spirits and provided a sense of stability for residents who felt isolated after the storm.
Progress and hope
Moore reported that power has been restored and the roads through her neighborhood were cleared within a week of the tornado. She emphasized that this would not have been possible without the volunteers. “It gives you so much hope when you face the devastation. As a person that’s kind of isolated, it’s really nice to have that community to come back to and really be a part of,” she said.
Continuing the effort
While the cleanup is far from finished, Kilman said the community’s support has been “outstanding.” Volunteers continue to show up day after day, tackling the less‑glamorous tasks that keep the island safe and livable. “This is not glamorous work, and we just appreciate their support so much,” he added.
The ongoing volunteer effort underscores the resilience of Menasha’s residents and the power of neighborly cooperation in the wake of natural disaster. As the final debris‑pickup deadline approaches, the community remains committed to restoring Doty Island to its pre‑tornado condition.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
