When the number of people in our community affected by the tornado outbreaks on Sunday and Monday of this week seems endless, it’s difficult to know where to start helping. Organizations on the ground such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Regional Food Bank and countless others have been answering that question with incredible swiftness and effectiveness, joining with first responders to meet so many of the immediate needs of those who have been affected.

For the Thunder, we have been sending players, coaches and staff into the community whenever an opportunity has arisen for us to help. We’ve stopped at hospitals and shelters, churches and donation sites, and we’ve even spent time in the middle of some of the worst-hit areas.

We’ve also been working to respond to the needs of our Thunder family. After checking on our staff, who collectively were very fortunate following this week’s destructive storms, we began to reach out to business and community partners, as well as Season Ticket Members, to find out if anyone needed our support.

Stories of those who could use a little help have gradually been coming to light. One of the first such stories we heard about was that of Randy and Heather Sanders, who lost their home in Monday’s tornado. They have a 2-year-old daughter who made it safely through the storm with them, and on Wednesday, they welcomed their second daughter into the world at INTEGRIS.

This morning, the Sanders’ account manager, Sydni, along with a few other staff members, stopped by the hospital with a little – er, rather, a big and furry – surprise. Rumble and the Thunder Girls came to see the Sanders and their daughters, as well as to drop off a care package to give some joy and some assistance as they welcome Tatum into the world and begin the process of rebuilding.

While we were there, we were fortunate enough to visit with a few people who had been injured in the tornadoes – including Jackie, another Season Ticket Member. With every stop, Rumble and the Thunder Girls put a smile on everyone’s faces. An  INTEGRIS staffer said multiple times that our visit marked only the first or second time some of these folks had smiled since they were admitted. It’s incredibly humbling to know that many of the people we visited are in need of so much, and yet one of the most powerful things we could give them was a smile.

Our organization continues to be committed to providing ongoing assistance with the relief, recovery and rebuilding efforts that will take place in the weeks and months to come. In the meantime, for any of our fans who wish to help those affected by this week’s storms, we encourage you to donate to the local chapter of the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army.

- Karina Henderson

One of the many local organizations the Thunder works with on a regular basis is Special Care, which offers year-round early childhood education, therapy and after-school and summer programs for children both with and without special needs.

Because of the excellent work they do for so many children and their families, Devon decided to donate 100 of their Devon Thunder Kids Club memberships to the children at Special Care, and delivered all the goodies that come with being part of the Kids Club – including a tote, Rumble bobblehead and more – to the facility yesterday, with the help of Rumble and the Thunder Girls.

Several of the pictures from the event that showed the joy Devon and the Thunder shared were too good not to post. Here are a few that demonstrate just how much fun everyone had together at Thursday’s event. Enjoy!

(Photos by J.P. Wilson)

- Karina Henderson

A few weeks ago, the Lady Saints of Santa Fe South High School got an unexpected treat – while they were assembling for an after-school practice at Santa Fe South Elementary, the Rolling Thunder Book Bus was finishing up a visit, and the ladies had a chance to meet Thunder forward Lazar Hayward.

At the time, the girls probably didn’t think much could top that thrill. But on Tuesday night, the Thunder may have turned their thrill-meter to 11.

Santa Fe South, located in south OKC, has created a strong tradition of community involvement. When the Thunder last year issued a challenge to Oklahoma high school basketball teams to get more involved in their communities, the Lady Saints – led by coach Danny Boyd – stepped up immediately.

The girls team won the High School Basketball Community Challenge; their team and the varsity boys from Wilson High School in Wilson, Okla., won a Thunder-ized home game experience for their outstanding community service efforts.

While they were packing boxes at the Regional Food Bank and signing in runners for the Redbud Classic, these young ladies probably didn’t imagine what those efforts would bring.

Anyone who walked in to the Santa Fe Middle School gym last night to see the Lady Saints take on ASTEC High could have closed their eyes and thought they were at a Thunder game. Game-night tunes were blasting, thunder sticks were clapping, cheers were rising. Even the P.A. announcements, voiced by the Thunder’s own Jim Miller, rounded out the sounds with near-familiar phrases (“Whose ball is it? Saints ball!”).

And if you opened your eyes, you would have seen the excitement and intensity of all the game elements in the Chesapeake Energy Arena, compacted into a 300-seat gymnasium.

The SFS players took the court with a smoke machine pumping as, one by one, the starters were introduced. Rumble banged on his signature drum to start the game, leading the fans into a frenzy of claps. Storm Chasers bounced around – and flew above – the court, keeping the energy at a peak and performing high-flying dunks at halftime. Thunder Girls cheered from the sidelines and kicked out a dance routine during a break. DJ Boom led the soundtrack, and Thunder Drummers laid down some beats.

Of the many rewards and benefits of community service, this is definitely a new one.

And perhaps that’s just the point. The Thunder organization leads many efforts to use the excitement that surrounds our team as a means of promoting a sense of community. Since 2008, the team has directly partnered with more than 500 nonprofit organizations to promote things like literacy, fitness and community service. We even walk the walk by sending players, staff and coaches into the community to directly impact the lives of others.

To foster the next generation of service-minded Oklahomans and to fortify the connection between basketball and community, the Thunder is continuing its High School Basketball Community Challenge this year. Teams from anywhere in the state are invited to help us in those efforts and make a difference locally.

Who knows, they might even get to experience our team “bringing the Thunder” to their hometown.

For more details on the High School Basketball Community Challenge, including entry forms and deadlines, please CLICK HERE.

- Karina Henderson