After an F-2 tornado spun through Clark and South Pymatuning Township last week, leveling some homes and damaging others, agencies and independent volunteers alike responded to help the residents put their lives back together.

Salvation Army and American Red Cross vehicles and personnel were a common sight in Clark and South Pymatuning last week, along with smoky bonfires and orange road block signs. Both the Salvation Army and the Red Cross set up headquarters in the Clark firehall last week.

On Sunday, most of the road blocks were gone and a lot of the rubble was cleaned up, but volunteers and the Salvation Army and the Red Cross -- although scaled back from what they were a week ago -- were still present.

Salvation Army volunteers passed out food to victims and volunteers helping them clear debris from their yards. Caseworkers met with families one-on-one to determine if their needs were being met, said Mark Tsantes, a supervisor Salvation Army in Pittsburgh.

"We're just sitting down and seeing what their needs are," Tsantes said. If a family has damage to their home but does not have insurance, the Salvation Army can help get their house fixed. The Salvation Army also made arrangements with a local Boy Scout troop to clean up the yard of an elderly couple in South Pymatuning Township.

In an emergency, the Salvation Army is either notified of the event or becomes aware of it by other means. Tsantes said he started the response after seeing the tornado on the news last Monday morning.

"I got ahold of local officers in Sharon and Greenville, then notified the two nearest disaster response units," Tsantes said. "One came out of Oil City, and the other came out of Erie."

An additional unit came from Pittsburgh, which was staffed by local volunteers from the Sharon office, Tsantes said.

"We come in and determine what the needs are going to be," he said.

Right after the tornado, 20 to 25 volunteers were out in the field. By Thursday, that number had dropped to 12.

"A lot of the residents have done everything they can do in their homes," Tsantes said. "They're just waiting for the contractors to come in."

Red Cross volunteers served meals to residents through Sunday and will continue to distribute supplies at an aid station at state Route 258 and Milton Street. In addition, the Red Cross offered minor first aid and mental health services to victims, said Kelli Serencsa, public affairs officer for the American Red Cross in Pittsburgh.

All Red Cross volunteers receive special training. Mental health volunteers, who have psychology or psychiatry backgrounds, were available for counseling services. Family service volunteers went door-to-door to see if anyone needed any help. After determining the needs of family members, the Red Cross can offer them temporary shelter and vouchers for food and clothing, Ms. Serencsa said.

But it wasn't just organizations like the Salvation Army and Red Cross who turned out to help the residents of Clark and South Pymatuning. Everyone from volunteer firefighters to college students pitched in for the tornado victims.

"We're so happy they're right here to support us and help us. We need this. That's what mutual aid is all about," said Lisa Kuncio, vice president of Clark Volunteer Fire Department, who helped coordinate the volunteers who came to the borough.

Students from Westminster and Thiel Colleges and Penn State Shenango used their community service hours to help the tornado victims. Sharpsville students and teachers were among those in the field during the big clean-up on Saturday. Businesses such as Wal-Mart and Lowe's donated supplies and sent volunteers.

The Sharpsville Middle School student council held a "Money War" to raise money for tornado victims. In four days, students raised $1,798 and Friday's collections were expected to be the largest of the week, according to an e-mail from middle school teacher and student council advisor Frank Bertolasio.

"It's just been overwhelming help and its been appreciated," Ms. Kuncio said. "We're saying thanks as we go, in case someone gets forgotten."

Anyone who wants to volunteer can report to the Clark fire station. Volunteers will be sent where they're needed, Ms. Kuncio said.