Hatton man helps sort through aftermath of Colorado wildfires

Has history of volunteerism, calls helping "therapeutic"

David Hamilton of Hatton sifts through ash and rubble in the aftermath of the Colorado wildfires last July. Hamilton went on a disaster-relief volunteer trip to the state, along with 12 other Missourians.
David Hamilton of Hatton sifts through ash and rubble in the aftermath of the Colorado wildfires last July. Hamilton went on a disaster-relief volunteer trip to the state, along with 12 other Missourians.

When David Hamilton takes vacation time from his work with an engineering firm based out of Columbia, he doesn't pack up the van and head for Disney World.

He prefers to get his hands dirty.

Hamilton, who moved to Hatton in January after a job change and to be closer to his grandchildren, recently returned from a trip to Colorado, helping displaced residents sift through their homes ravaged by the state's recent wildfires.

He spent a week in the state beginning July 11 with 12 other volunteers on a trip sponsored by the Missouri Baptist Convention, partnered with the American Red Cross.

"We went out there after the fires went through and were helping people who had gotten burnt out and lost their homes," he said. "Many of those people were out at work and were just told to evacuate, so some of them were out of a home for three weeks, and when they went back up everything was gone. I was out there just trying to help them recover."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.