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Volunteers Fix Tornado Damage On Mpls. Father's Home

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Residents in north Minneapolis are still struggling to get back on their feet after the May 22 tornado that ripped through the area.

A single father of four got some much needed help from strangers across the country on Friday.

"The Soffit and the gutters came off at the back, some of the roof stuff came loose," said homeowner Gregory Wheeler.

He was in a bind. He didn't have the funds to make those fixes.

"It's really a financial hardship," said Wheeler. "I have a 6-year old, 4-year-old, 3 and 2-year-old."

A group called "Rebuild America" and Wells Fargo teamed up to help Wheeler out on Friday. College students from all over the country volunteered. They painted the inside of the house, broke up concrete and built up the landscape around the house to stop water from pouring into the basement.

"We're actually giving back, this is why we're in this industry, we're supposed to be servicing people and today we're servicing some people," said Joseph Millhouse from San Antonio, Texas.

And speaking about giving back, Wells Fargo said they based their internship program on Historian W.E.B. Du Bois talented 10th theory. It basically takes the best and brightest, and through education and social change, their hope is to help uplift the community.

This is the third year for the program.

"Now we've got a legacy that we can leave with college students that believes in what we believe in, giving of yourself and giving back to the community," said Grace Mejia with Wells Fargo.

"It makes you feel good about that, but it makes you aware that hey we live in America and things are still happening," said Millhouse.

"When people come together like this it's really touching and emotional, so I really thank them a lot for doing this," said Wheeler.

The student volunteers will be offered jobs through the Wells Fargo mortgage program when they are done with their internships.

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