Businesses rally to aid tornado victims in Delta

Sullivan’s Marketplace partnered with the City of Gluckstadt and served as a large collection point for items to be sent to Rolling Fork after an EF-4 tornado devastated the Delta on March 24.

Jeff McKnight, store manager at Sullivan’s, said the store collected items such as water, diapers, paper goods, canned goods, baby wipes, cat food, and dog food. 

“All of that was shipped off...and the items were taken to Rolling Fork and Vaiden,” McKnight said. “More item collection is to be determined.” 

Guns-N-Gear collected seven full pallets of water for Rolling Fork, and successfully delivered a total of 13,440 bottles, which came out to around 1,744.5 gallons of clean drinking water. 

“The devastation and our fellow Mississippians are heavy on our hearts and in our minds,” Guns-N-Gear wrote on Facebook. “The GNG family is praying for you all and extends our love and sympathies. Mississippians always come together in times of need and we will do all we can to help you.” 

Guns-N-Gear owner Hunter Sartain said he is a paramedic by profession and while he does not work as a paramedic anymore, helping people is in his DNA. 

“I saw a need and knew I had the ability to help, so I did,” Sartain said. “I’m really no different than any other person with a heart and calling to help their fellow man.”