The Troy Nutrition Center is caring for one of its own.

The home of Rubie Jewel Townsend, a longtime volunteer with the center, was destroyed when a tornado touched down along Highway 29 north in Troy on Thursday.

“Rubie has been such a jewel at the Troy Nutrition Center for a long time,” said Shelia Deveridge, center director. “She is a dedicated volunteer. She helps in the kitchen and anywhere else she is needed. She was pushing the milk and juice cart on Thursday when they came to tell her that her home had been destroyed.”

Deveridge said Townsend lost everything when the tornado literally flipped her mobile home upside down.

“We were all heartbroken for her,” she said. “Here at the Troy Nutrition Center we are like family. We are family. We support each other through good times and bad times. We wanted to reach out to Rubie in her time of real need.”

Deveridge said the “family” at the Troy Nutrition Center is inviting the community to join its efforts to help ease the burden of Townsend’s devastating loss.

“We are making monetary donations to Rubie,” she said. “There is no reason to donate household items because right now she has no place to put anything. Her home is gone. When she is able to get a place to live, she can use the monetary donations to replace the things she has lost.

“We feel like there are those in the community that would like to support to Rubie and we want to offer them this opportunity,” Deveridge said.

Monetary donations may be mailed to Rubie Townsend, c/o Troy Nutrition Center, 498 East Walnut Street, Troy, AL 36081 or dropped off at the center. For more information, call the Troy Nutrition Center at 674-2484 or 372-2860.