The parking lot at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Mo., hummed with excitement on a recent Thursday, despite oppressive heat. Thousands of Ozarks’ residents turned out for an event designed to raise money for their neighbors in Joplin who were hit by an EF5 tornado on May 22.

During the daylong event attendees listened to live music, met NASCAR and outdoor celebrities, and ate meals served by local television personalities — all for the price of a donation to Convoy of Hope’s Joplin relief effort.

Click here to make secure online donations.

“There were many volunteers from Springfield businesses who made this happen, doing everything from selling T-shirts, to passing out food and collecting donations,” says Jeff Roman, corporate relations director for Convoy of Hope. “We are so grateful to Bass Pro Shops, KY3, KSPR, the Ozarks CW, Harter House, Krispy Kreme, the Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper Bottling Company and Johnsonville Brats who helped make this event a success. Their hard work will enable Convoy of Hope to help many people in Joplin who are working to rebuild their shattered lives.”

The event raised approximately $300,000 for Convoy of Hope disaster relief, including a generous donation from outdoor clothing and gear company Columbia Sportswear.

Another partnership between Journal Broadcasting Group radio stations in Springfield and Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) netted more than $71,000 for Convoy of Hope’s Joplin relief effort.

In addition to monetary donations, volunteers at OTC’s Springfield campus collected nine tractor-trailer loads of relief supplies that have been transported to Joplin for distribution.

“We have seen residents of southwest Missouri give generously over the years when disasters happen around the world,” says Jeff Nene, senior director of public relations for Convoy of Hope. “It is encouraging to see this outpouring of generosity extended to our neighbors here in the Ozarks who have stood by us so faithfully.”

So far, Convoy of Hope has shipped more than 600,000 pounds of relief and recovery supplies to Joplin. Volunteers have donated more than 8,500 man-hours to help distribute those supplies to individuals and families affected by the storm.

As Convoy of Hope transitions from the response stage to the recovery stage in Joplin, all of the products remaining to be distributed have been relocated to a walk-in facility on property donated for this use by Pyramid Foods, parent company to a chain of 48 grocery stores in the Midwest.

Residents affected by the tornado may receive relief supplies, and other items they need such as rakes, shovels, brooms, work gloves, quality trash bags and trash cans.