CHAMPAIGN — When J.P. Jones, senior pastor at the First Christian Church in Champaign, arrived at the church on Tuesday morning, he was hoping to get enough contributions of supplies for tornado victims in Joplin, Mo., to fill up a semitrailer.

By Tuesday afternoon, Jones said, enough donations of food, clothing, cleaning and medical items and other relief supplies had been made to fill three semitrailers.

The church ended up sending four semitrailers and a pickup truck pulling a trailer.

"This underscores what most of us realize: We live in a very generous, caring community," Jones said. "In a time of crisis, our community runs to solve a problem rather than fleeing from a situation."

Jones reported a steady stream of people dropping off not only supplies, but also more than $10,000 in cash donations, beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday and lasting throughout most of the day.

"Many of the people told me they read about our efforts in The News-Gazette and wanted to help," Jones said. "Not only did we have lots of people bringing donations, but many of them also stayed to help load items onto pallets to go on one of the trailers."

Jones said one man watching the plight of Joplin tornado victims on television noticed many of the people were sifting through the rubble without any gloves on, so he went out and bought 200 pairs of gloves to put on one of the trucks.

Jones said church members were inspired to collect relief supplies because several members of the First Christian Church's ministerial staff had received training at Ozark Christian College in Joplin.

Jones said he and his staff have been in contact with people in Joplin by way of Facebook messages and text messages to help put together lists of items needed by the tornado victims.

"We've been telling them, Here's what we're bringing down," Jones said. "We are trying to stay on top of their needs to make sure we are bringing them the best stuff."

Jones said a convoy of semitrailers carrying the supplies and volunteers from the church is expected to pull out of the church parking lot on Wednesday morning. Not only was the use of the semitrailers donated, but Jones said local citizens also paid for the fuel used by the semitrailers for the trip to Missouri.

"I haven't seen an outpouring of compassion like this since right after Hurricane Katrina," Jones said.