Hundreds in St. Louis, Missouri, serve after destructive tornadoes

Since tornadoes hit the St. Louis, Missouri, area on May 16, Latter-day Saints and missionaries have been helping with cleanup efforts, assisting local relief efforts and distributing hot meals

Published: June 3, 2025, 4:50 p.m. MDT

A group of volunteers made up of families, missionaries and others pose for a picture with St. Louis community members after serving them a hot meal with Hot Meals USA. This was done to provide relief for those affected by the May 16 tornado. — Volunteers at the Hot Meals USA truck help the St. Louis, Missouri, community recover from the May 16, 2025, tornado by serving hot meals. Tom Blair

A tornado touched down in the St. Louis, Missouri, area Friday afternoon on May 16 and left a trail of destruction through more than three cities in its wake — even crossing over into the state of Illinois. This mile-wide EF3 tornado killed at least seven people and damaged or destroyed at least 5,000 buildings, according to a Fox Weather article.

Just over a week later, Tom Blair, volunteer and coordinating council member for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, teared up during a Church News interview thinking of the continuous relief efforts from Church members in the area.

It makes him “proud to be a part of an organization like the Church, which is prepared to help people, respond in crises and get people on the ground.”

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