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 3:46 PM CDT

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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.

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Pauline Bartolone