ST. LOUIS – Families and neighbors across north St. Louis are still working to recover from the May 16 tornado. 

A new partnership between the Spirit of St. Louis Task Force and the American Red Cross is bringing resources directly to where they’re needed most.

FOX 2 took a closer look at how the faith-based initiative is helping storm-ravaged  neighborhoods.   

Tornado survivor Gill Maurice Morris said his home was blown apart, with roofs also torn off. 

“I was sitting in my living room and heard the house shake,” Morris recalled. “The next thing I know, the roof just blew off.”

Morris said that although he lost everything, he is grateful the community is pulling together to help.

This week, St. James AME and West Side Missionary Baptist Church are offering food, supplies, housing assistance and emotional support to tornado victims through a faith-based soft launch.

“This is what we regularly do: outreach to the community—so when we have a crisis, it’s just an extension of what we do outside of the walls to help the community rebuild leadership of people and community,” Pastor Charles Norris said. 

The effort is already making a difference for those who are left to rebuild their lives.

“We are really working  to provide hubs with faith-based partners in the area to ensure that there are more resources pushing into communities where people need access to various needs and items,” Lakricia Cox, Executive Director for Red Cross Missouri, said. 

The Spirit of St. Louis Task Force hubs are currently in soft launch, with expanded services planned soon.