PORT ANGELES — Sequim resident Teresa Lingvall recently collected a total of $700 for victims of a series of tornados that struck Oklahoma in May.
Lingvall, a traffic control supervisor at Lakeside Industries’ Port Angeles office, had been “feeling a little bad about myself” when she saw television coverage of the disaster.
She said she quickly realized the scope of the damage — 32 people dead, hundreds injured, more than 1,150 homes destroyed and $2 billion-plus in damages — was far greater than anything she was dealing with and decided to do something to help with recovery.
She created a number of donation collection jars and distributed them at businesses in Sequim and Port Angeles.
Lingvall also set up an Oklahoma Tornado Victims Fund at First Federal.
The collections totaled $350 before Lingvall’s boss, Division Manager George Peabody, stepped forward with a $350 matching contribution.
The funds were given to Samaritan’s Purse, a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization that responds to disasters like this.
Samaritan’s Purse sent two disaster-relief units to Moore, Okla., two days after the largest tornado destroyed much of the town.
The group’s assistance in the Moore community concluded July 11 after 452 homeowners received help with debris removal, salvaging personal belongings, cutting up and removing downed trees, and tarping damaged roofs.
“Years ago, I did something similar for victims of an earthquake in Mexico when I was a Peninsula College student,” Lingvall said.
“I get compulsions like this once in awhile,” Lingvall added.
She is keeping the Oklahoma Tornado Victims Fund account active, and the public can donate at any First Federal branch.
Businesses that hosted collection jars included Sequim Co-op, Oasis Bar & Grill, Hardy’s Market and 101 Outpost in Sequim and Marine Drive Chevron, Grandview Grocery, Next Door Gastropub, Fairmount Restaurant and Traylor’s Restaurant in Port Angeles.
