Three Rivers community help each other in aftermath of tornado

THREE RIVERS, Mich. -- Locals are teaming together to bring food to those trying to piece their lives back together.

This was the brainchild of someone who actually doesn't even live in Three Rivers but has a child who goes to school in the city and wanted to help those who have been working hard to lift up this community.

"It was an unsettling feeling, because you knew that something was coming," said David Bradford, Three Rivers resident.

The Three Rivers community is still picking up the pieces both physically and emotionally after Friday's storm.

One good Samaritan from nearby Jones is making sure anyone who is in need of a meal right now isn't going hungry.

"I think even though I don't live directly in this community, we're all a part of the same community, right? So, I would hope if this did happen where I lived, that we would get this kind of support from this community," said volunteer Sarah Rieff.

Reiff and others brought the food but needed a place to put it.

That's where local county veteran service officer Jessica Merting came in, using the yard of a home which houses veterans to set up shop and help feed people impacted by the tornadoes.

"My friend Sarah and I just wanted to get together and initially just have a little lunch for the linemen, the crew, the people that have been stepping up to help the community, and I realized we have this property here, it's big, people can come, and I thought why not get the veterans involved, and they're so excited to host," said Merting.

A stone's throw up the road; one couple is still in shock after coming nearly face to face with the tornado.

"My son came outside and he was like 'there's debris in the sky, there's debris in the sky' and so we noticed there was debris in the sky, and the next thing you know, it was like a vacuum, everything just went woosh, the wind came, and just like they say, like a freight train," said Bradford.

The Bradfords' apartment suffered extensive damage, including a chunk of their roof ending up in their backyard.

Despite all the horrors they've witnessed, they're still grateful things didn't turn out worse and that they can feel the community's support.

"Our neighbors yard, it doesn't look like what it looked like on Friday, on Friday it looked like the worst thing I've ever seen in my life, and now those trees are already cut up, there's power lines that are already put up, there's people on the roof next door, fixing the roof, it's amazing. There are people giving food out to help people, so you can't ask for anything more than that and it's just what we need right now," said Bradford.

Reiff says she plans on keeping this food train rolling, so long as volunteers still come, and people are still in need.