Tornado Relief Phone Bank Thursday

“Everybody started crying and I started crying. Because i didn't know if i was going to make it or not,” said one student.

At Plaza Towers Elementary school, at least 7 children died.

Earl Meyers... a retired Fresno Unified teacher sat at the Red Cross in Fresno with $10in his hand, recalling how teachers shielded students.

"I could be in the same boat. My children could be in the same boat. And you never know if by helping someone else, you could very well be helping yourself,” he said.

In just two days, the Red Cross of the Central Valley collected over $11,000 dollars.

And a new relief effort is underway.

Thursday, CBS47 teams up with the Red Cross for a phone bank.

People can donate over the phone

“The Red Cross stays on the ground with these families of individuals affected until they're able to support themselves,” said Anya Goosev of the Red Cross. 

There are 200 Red Cross volunteers on the ground in Oklahoma, including a local woman who took off from FresnoYosemiteInternationalAirport Wednesday morning.

“This is the biggest gift you could give someone-to be able to help to have expertise to be able to do that is amazing,” she said. 

Proving to her once again that the American spirit will prevail… 

Phone Bank

The CBS47 fundraiser for the Red Cross is Thursday night, from 5pm to 6:30pm.   

You’ll be able to call (559) 455-1000 to donate while CBS47 is on the air.

If you want to help before that, just text the words 'REDCROSS' to 90999.

$10 will be charged to your account.