Credit Mid-Missourians for coming to the aid of residents in Kansas, Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle, where wind-fueled wildfires have scorched more than 1 million acres of land.
At 4 p.m. today, a convoy of aid is leaving from Belle, heading to Kansas.
Some affected people have described the wildfires as "our Hurricane Katrina." Like that catastrophe, not everyone dealing with the wildfires is happy with the federal government's response to their crisis, the New York Times reported on Monday.
But the Times reported help has arrived in the form of volunteers, ranging from farmers bringing bales of hay for feeding surviving livestock, to 4-H groups helping with clean-up efforts.
Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst, a northwest Missouri farmer, wrote in his weekly column a Kansas friend described the destruction caused by "a 50-foot-high wall of flames traveling at interstate speeds and leaving devastation and heartbreak in its wake."
He added: "Of all the emotions we humans endure, surely none is worse than helplessness in the face of tragedy."
Another organizer is state Rep. Tom Hurst, R-Meta, no relation to Blake Hurst. "This is one of those things where you're just helping your neighbor," he said. "This isn't about profit or loss."
The Meta lawmaker noted the governors of Missouri and Kansas have waived some of the normal regulations for transporting agricultural materials.
He anticipates at least 16 trucks and trailers will make the trip, carrying wires, posts, gate panels, dog food, a lot of fencing supplies and feed for the livestock.
Among the donors are companies like MFA and Diamond Foods and individuals like Jeff Maples, of Belle, who donated 400 bales of hay.
Tom Hurst said his group will continue to take donations, even after the trucks leave today.
In his column, Blake Hurst said the Farm Bureau and its foundation also are taking donations and seeking ways to help.
"It's just good people doing good things for other good people," he said.
Midwesterners are known for having big hearts and looking out for one another. If this were happening here in Missouri, we know other area states wouldn't hesitate to help us.
We're proud to see area farmers and other residents stepping up and doing the same.