An EF3 tornado swept through Poplar Bluff, Missouri, on March 14th, causing widespread destruction including the home of Darby Russom and her husband Trendall. Winds reached nearly 140 miles per hour, destroying their roof, shed, and carport. The couple salvaged what little they could and relocated after the storm, but many of their belongings were gone with the wind. Among the items lost were the couple’s cherished photos from their 2023 wedding.
The morning after the storm, nearly 100 miles away in Brazeau, Bonnie and Doug Hemman, owners of Hemman Winery, discovered a wedding photo in their yard. Bonnie shared the image on social media, writing, “Does anyone know these beautiful ladies?” Within 30 minutes, someone recognized a niece in the photo, and the post quickly gained traction. This led Bonnie to contact Russom and return the photo.
Bonnie mailed the photo along with $300 donated by winery customers. She shared her own experience of losing a home in a fire 15 years ago. Russom says she’s "very grateful" to have her wedding photo back and surprised by the support shown by the community, saying, “We’ve never expected so many people to be reaching out, trying to help.”
Source: PEOPLE
Photo: Michael O'Keeffe / 500px Prime / Getty Images