SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Less than 48 hours after a record-setting 23 tornadoes leveled portions of northern and central Alabama, local residents rallied to help those in need.

“We did a ‘mass call’ to parents at 10:30 a.m. Friday, letting them know that we were taking donations that would be delivered that night (to Tuscaloosa)” said Rockwell Elementary Principal Robbie Owen.

By 4 p.m., Owen said some 150 families across Spanish Fort and other parts of Baldwin County had donated enough to send a U-Haul truck and trailer “jam-packed” with supplies.

The idea, he said, was to help meet some of the “immediate needs” of tornado victims, some of whom were left with absolutely nothing in the wake of the April 27 storms that claimed nearly 300 lives.

Catherine O’Shea of Spanish Fort said she learned of the effort around 11 a.m. Friday and immediately contacted her church to see if members could assist.

“Everybody was looking for a way to help, and it just seemed like the most efficient way to get supplies on the road,” she said, noting parishioners were asked to contribute water, non-perishable food items, snacks, children’s clothing and, for those in doubt, monetary donations.

“If you’ve ever been left in the dark wondering if all your family is safe, then you don’t even think twice about helping other people in the same situation. You just do whatever you can to help,” O’Shea said.

Parker Collins of Spanish Fort was part of a separate, 12-member youth mission trip mounted for a one-day recovery effort in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.

“It was exhausting, but when you see people who have absolutely nothing left, you can’t complain about being tired. I want to go back again this weekend if anybody’s headed that way,” said Collins, 17.

Meanwhile, EasternShoreMom.com is hosting a collection drive from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Eastern Shore Centre’s fountain for local residents eager to help but unable to travel to the devastated areas personally.

In her plea for donations of non-perishable items, Aubrey Nix, founder of the grassroots couponing and frugal living website, wrote, “Many have lost whole homes, family members and are in need of basic necessities to live. Let’s come together and help them out.”