By Erika Anderson

Staff Writer

DUNWOODY--The threatening skies of April 18 did nothing to hinder the over 400 volunteers who arrived at All Saints Church eager to provide help to parishioners whose homes were devastated by the tornado which struck during the early morning hours of Holy Thursday, April 9.

Under the direction of Msgr. Donald R. Kiernan, pastor of All Saints Church, Deacon Ray Egan coordinated the relief effort and instructed the volunteers from various parishes to form groups of 10, and sent them out to assist parishioners who had asked for help.

Msgr. Kiernan prayed for the volunteers and the work that was ahead of them.

"We thank God for the fact that we are here...We thank God that so many lives were spared," he said. "We pray that the little dent that we might make today may be able to alleviate some of the fears and anxiety."

Determined to help in any way possible, the volunteers set out for the various houses, many of them unaware of the destruction and devastation that they would be witnessing.

Lauren Whittaker, a parishioner at the Church of St. Ann, Marietta, is a former Dunwoody resident and All Saints parishioner. As she listened to Deacon Egan's instructions, she was anxious to help her fellow Catholics.

"I have no idea what's ahead of us," she said. "It really doesn't matter. In this type of disaster, people don't know where to turn. Hopefully we can do something to help them, no matter what it might be."

Carole Meehan, 16, an All Saints parishioner, said that she was happy for the opportunity to do something to help.

"It hit so many of my friends and so many people I know. You can't get into many of the neighborhoods and you kind of feel helpless," she said. "I just want to help."

As the volunteers filed out of the gym, grabbing gloves, goggles, and the 500 bag lunches prepared by the parish St. Vincent de Paul Society and permits to allow them into the damaged neighborhoods, Msgr. Kiernan said he was not surprised by the large turnout.

"This parish has the greatest spirit. They respond to everything. I am more than pleased with the turnout," he said. "What does surprise me is the cross-section of people. There are young people, middle-aged and older people. It's wonderful to see."

Karen Travers, an All Saints parishioner who assisted Deacon Egan with coordinating the volunteer effort, was also pleased with the diversity of people.

"I'm not surprised at the outpouring, but I'm surprised at the cross-section," she said. "You see a little of everyone."

Travers said that because the community was so surprised by the devastation, everyone has banded together.

"I think that it's the Dunwoody community. We really have a close community," she said. "People just didn't expect this type of thing here."

Peggy White, parish nurse at All Saints and coordinator for health ministry who assisted with the relief efforts, offered baby-sitting for the children of those affected by the tornadoes so they could work without disruption and worry. She said that the volunteer effort was only the beginning of the healing process.

"This is about reaching out to the congregation with the healing power of Jesus Christ," she said. "Today, it's about healing--healing others and healing ourselves. It's really beautiful to see."

White said that All Saints plans to offer counseling and baby-sitting throughout the next several weeks.

At the damage sites, volunteers hauled brush to the curb, picked up trash and used chainsaws to cut massive trees into logs that could be carried.

Amy Williams, youth minister at St. John Neumann, Lilburn, brought 10 of her youth group members to Dunwoody. Many of the youth group lives in Peachtree Corners, another area that was hard hit by the tornado.

"We lived through the storm and we're so grateful," she said. "We wanted to come and help."

Williams said her youth group was a little hesitant about helping out when they saw the amount of destruction.

"At first they were apprehensive. They couldn't believe the devastation," she said. "But they are really working hard and going all out, just really wanting to help. I'm proud of them."

Williams and her group worked at the home of James Walsh, who arrived at his home after volunteers had already begun working on his property.

Walsh, his wife, Rita, and their son, Tom, were at home in bed when the tornado hit. Walsh said that he grabbed his blankets off his bed and backed into the closet.

"The next thing I knew I saw flashing lights," he said. " The stairway to the crawl space collapsed and the roof blew off. In about 30 seconds it was all by."

The Walsh family has lived in their home for 27 years and are expecting a structural engineer to tell them whether their home can be salvaged and rebuilt.

This is not the first time that a tornado has hit the family. Walsh's daughter's home in Springfield, Mo., was leveled by a tornado four years ago. The 85-year-old Walsh, a member of the All Saints choir, said that the fact that they are alive is a miracle.

"I read my daily Bible and I have a lot of faith," he said. "The fact that no one was killed was the Lord sparing us. At the same time, I've always accepted His will regardless of what it is."

Walsh said they will get through this time, whether they have to rebuild or find a new home.

"I try to keep living," he said. "I don't feel I have to sit down and wait for anything."

Maria Henry, an All Saints parishioner, was clearing brush and trees from the Wolf family home, just a few houses down from the Walsh's.

"It means everything to be able to help," Henry said. "You feel like you're contributing."

Henry has been volunteering and trying to help the tornado victims since the day it occurred. She is the leader of Brownie Troop 8258 and said that half of her troop members' homes were hit by the tornado. Besides the physical labor she is doing, she also organized a baby-sitting and chicken dinner for her scout troop, in order to give their parents some much needed relief.

Henry said that they are fortunate that All Saints Church was not damaged at all by the tornado.

"It's a blessing that we have the church whole. It's miraculous," she said. "It's been a haven because people know that their church is still there."

Patty Wolf, whose family lives in the home where Henry volunteered on Saturday, works in the office at All Saints. Her daughter Margaret, 23, has found many blessings in all that they have endured. As several people hauled trees to the street and picked up broken glass, Wolf remarked that "it's wonderful to at least have our yard looking nice."

The Wolfs were in Orlando when the tornado hit, except for Margaret's brother, who lives in the basement of their home. After hearing about the tornado, Margaret said, the family came back to Atlanta.

"I didn't think it was our house," she said. "It isn't our street or our neighborhood. I think that's what is so depressing. It's not just a couple of houses, it's the whole neighborhood."

The frame of the Wolf home collapsed into Margaret's room, and she said that she is most upset about losing photos and other memories. Still, she feels blessed because she was able to salvage all of her antique jewelry given to her by her grandmother.

"All of the drawers popped out except for the one that had my antique jewelry in it," she said. "We also found antique vases that had fallen onto insulation and didn't break."

"God was definitely watching over us," she said. "When I walked up and saw my room...I could have been here. It definitely strengthens my faith."

Wolf also said she was grateful for the parishioners that came to help her family with the clean up.

"It's just amazing to me. I don't even know half of the parishioners," she said. "It just shows how strong our community is and how strong our church is."

The Myszka family was vacationing in Savannah during Holy Week, and had no idea that a tornado had left their neighborhood in shambles until they drove home. Their house was hit by several trees. Linda Myszka said that she can't believe the outpouring from their church.

"I cannot tell you how wonderful it is," she said. "I got a lump in my throat to see so many people at the church this morning."

Shay Buckley, 16, an All Saints parishioner, worked at the Myszka home throughout the day.

"It's really important that we help these people whose houses were completely destroyed," she said. "My neighborhood was completely untouched, so I figured I could at least get out here and help."

Lisa Nemetz, youth minister at Holy Spirit Church, Atlanta, was also working at the Myszkas and surrounding houses with her group of teens.

"All of us coming together is such a good way to show the kids that when something like this happens we need to ban together to help each other out," she said.

Michael Norz, a member of the All Saints Knights of Columbus, said that he was not surprised by the willingness of the volunteers.

"That's just the way All Saints is," he said.