2010
In April 2009, Mena, Arkansas—a city of approximately 5,000 residents—was hit by an EF-3 tornado, which killed 3 and injured 30. The Vincent Family and other New York Says Thank You volunteers traveled to Mena in December 2009 to paint 400 Stars of HOPE with students at Louis Durham Elementary School and the Mena Fire Department. The Stars were then placed throughout Mena to provide lasting emotional comfort to the community during their healing and rebuilding process. Many residents of Mena have joined the Vincent Family and New York Says Thank You volunteers during future Stars of HOPE events in other devastated communities.
