CAMBY, Ind. (WISH) — Residents at a non-profit transitional housing facility who are getting help themselves are now assisting those impacted by the tornadoes in Tennessee. They are packing emergency kits for the victims affected by the deadly tornadoes in Nashville.

Active Grace Camp Camby offers meals, clothing and job training to people in need.

Shannon Sturgeon says she fell on hard times while living in her call in 2017. She graduated from the nonprofit’s program in 2019 and says doing service work has always given her motivation to recover.

“It not only helps me with self-esteem, but it also built compassion. It just gives you purpose, it gives you meaning and it’s just people helping people in the darkest times,” Sturgeon said.

“Many of the families and veterans that are here in transition were homeless at one time and they may be going through addiction or trauma and a good way for them to kind of get out of their headspace and get on with their lives is for service,” said Active Grace co-founder and executive director Ryan Chapman.

Residents have been packing hygiene products, feminine products, paper towels and makeup to send to Nashville on March 8.

They also recently helped victims in Houston after Hurricane Harvey devastated the area.

Sturgeon said homelessness is something she knows all too well and doesn’t want those in Tennessee to feel forgotten.

“Being in my own experience I can feel the struggle trying to ‘OK we can get through this. We can do this together,’” said Sturgeon.

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