How a spirit of kindness grew in the aftermath of a tornado — and remains 15 years on

NPR | By Pauline Bartolone

Published May 22, 2026 at 4:46 PM EDT

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Fifteen years ago, after a massive tornado flattened much of Joplin, Mo., nearly 100,000 volunteers helped the town rebuild. A spirit of community service lives on in Joplin today.