Branson Performers help out with Joplin clean up effort

Posted by Kale Garner of KOAM TV and Fox 14

The support is coming from everywhere now dozens of Branson performers will participate in the Joplin relief effort during a Branson cares telethon.

We will air that telethon on Sunday, June 26th but today Angela Garcia met up with a number of those performers who are already getting started.

The sound of chainsaws and stacking debris aren't typical sounds coming from these Branson entertainers.

A handful of performers put their normal jobs on hold to help clean up Joplin neighborhoods.

"we're glad to be here glad to help out however we can- good way to spend the weekend. The silver lining in all of this is that so many people can come together and do some good together. It just makes you feel good inside."

The Hughes brothers signed up to volunteer through their church

They will also participate in the Branson Cares Telethon.

This was the first time many of the performers had been in Joplin since the tornado hit.

"I just couldn't believe the devastation. All the trees torn apart. The buildings leveled, uh pieces of metal and buildings wrapped around trees. It's hard to believe. It's completely different to see things first hand than to see it on the news or see pictures of it. "

Tim Dutton and his wife volunteered through the boomtown days event.

They signed up for the race which was then changed to a clean up day after the tornado.

"Many of the Branson performers say they offer relief to people through their entertainment. After seeing the devastation in Joplin they knew they had to bring their effort here."

"The one thing that can never be taken from us is our hope. And that's something that we can all give as Branson entertains. We entertain- but being able to come up here and let the people know that even as far away as Branson- that we're thinking about them we care enough that we wanna come up here, clean up and help them rebuild."