When the storm clears: Danville-based God’s Pit Crew helps those impacted by recent tornadoes

As sirens fall silent and storm clouds move on, a different kind of force rolls in—bringing more than just supplies.

“For our crew, it is a mix of urgency, heartbreak, and purpose,” said Carly Brashears. 

Because when the God’s Pit Crew team rolls out of Southside Virginia, it’s a good chance that someone else is having a very bad day. 

We recently connected with Brashears, the nonprofit organization’s director of media and public relations, after a mass of severe weather impacted parts of the country on May 15 and 16, leaving a trail of damage and devastation from the Heartland to the East Coast.

A caravan of help left the group’s Danville headquarters on Tuesday, heading to St. Louis, Missouri, where an EF3 tornado with wind speeds up to 152 mph hit the area. The National Weather Service noted that at times, the tornado was a mile wide.  

As of May 18, ABC News reported 28 deaths in three states—Kentucky, Missouri, and Virginia—in direct relation to the storms. Tornadoes claimed the lives of many of the victims and caused extensive damage to the impacted areas. That’s where God’s Pit Crew steps in. When a natural disaster covers a large area like the multitude of recent tornadoes did, Brashears explained, the crew assesses where they might be most helpful. 

Along with prayer and discussion with local emergency management, churches, and community leaders in the affected regions, the nonprofit also looks at logistics: Where the damage is most severe, where access for equipment and volunteers is possible, and any areas where resources may be lacking.

“There are often areas that receive little or no help due to countless reasons—that’s where we try to go. God’s Pit Crew’s goal is to respond with both speed and compassion,” Brashears said. “We focus on deploying and delivering supplies that are most urgently needed first—Blessing Buckets filled with essentials like shelf stable food, bottled water, personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, Bibles, and more.”

The on-the-ground team also seeks out opportunities to help residents who are overwhelmed and may not know where to begin. Sometimes, that means offering damaged tree removal, cleaning up debris, putting tarps on roofs—and even rebuilding homes in some cases. 

This time, help is heading to St. Louis.

Crossing the Mississippi 

Dozens of volunteers—not just from Danville, but a multitude of states—offered to help with the organization’s coordinated relief efforts. A church in St. Louis offered to house up to 50 volunteers per night. In addition to a safe place to rest, volunteers can clean off in the crew’s mobile shower trailer, will have laundry access, and will receive three meals a day. 

“It truly becomes a home base for our team on the ground,” Brashears said.

As of Monday afternoon, five God’s Pit Crew tractor-trailer loads filled with relief supplies were heading to Missouri and Kentucky to support those affected by the tornadoes. The trucks carried pallets of bottled water, food, Gatorade, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, Blessing Buckets, and more. Brashears noted that the number of donations was still growing.

But rolling in with necessary supplies is just one part of the mission. Meeting people where they’re at, especially during such a difficult time, has an impact—both on the people receiving aid, and those serving. 

“We have witnessed the devastation before, but it never gets easier to witness families who have lost everything unexpectedly—their homes, their sense of normalcy, sometimes even loved ones and community members,” Brashears said. “There is a deep sense of compassion that drives our crew and volunteers, but also a strong resolve to bring hope and help as quickly and meaningfully as possible.”

Oftentimes, the people in the impacted areas are dealing with a variety of emotions: Shock, grief, confusion, uncertainty, and fear, Brashears explained. 

“Many of them share with us that they have no clue where to begin cleaning up and putting the pieces back together,” Brashears said. “However, when they see the God’s Pit Crew trucks pull in, full of volunteers and supplies, there is often a visible shift—sometimes tears, oftentimes words of thanks, and sometimes just a quiet look of relief. It is as if, in that moment, they realize they are not alone. That someone cared enough to show up. That first moment always reminds our crew why we do what we do.”

Many of the people who volunteer time with God’s Pit Crew, Brashears noted, use their paid vacation hours to serve—and that’s not something you see every day. Rather than spend the day relaxing, they use their time helping someone else.

“We often say, ‘You couldn’t pay our volunteers to do the work they do’—and we mean it. They don’t come for recognition or reward,” Brashears said. “They come because they care, and because they believe in showing up when others are hurting. Every act of service they offer—whether it is hauling debris, comforting a survivor, or spending hours in extreme heat or freezing cold—is fueled by compassion and a desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus.”

But volunteering physically isn’t the only way to help—there are opportunities for people all across Virginia and beyond to get involved. 

The media director noted four areas that benefit nonprofit’s mission: Praying, giving, volunteering, and sharing. Together, these action steps ensure that the crew is able to mobilize quickly and meet real needs—physically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. 

If you are interested in getting involved, there are a multitude of ways to join the cause. Simply connect with God’s Pit Crew to see how your talents could best be used to fulfill a meaningful need.