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ST. LOUIS — Theresa Thomas came to the Urban League of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½â€™ headquarters on Saturday with a simple goal: Get a bigger tarp.

A patchwork of small tarps is covering part of her north ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ home after a May 16 tornado ripped off a large chunk of the roof, leaving her home exposed. But the tarps aren’t quite big enough to cover the hole and she needed another, Thomas said.

The tornado that damaged hundreds of buildings, injured dozens of people and killed five residents across the city also mangled cars, uprooted hundreds of trees in Forest Park and neighborhoods. Hundreds of residents have been without power for days.

“This is a Hurricane Katrina-level disaster here in ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½,â€� said Michael McMillan, CEO of the Urban League of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, which organized the distribution event. “The need is overwhelming. It is a catastrophic level event.â€�

McMillan expected to serve more than 3,000 people on Saturday afternoon at Urban League headquarters, near Kingshighway and Page Boulevard. Volunteers distributed more than $250,000 worth of food, toiletries, cleaning products, pet supplies and more to people who’d been waiting on foot or in a vehicle, some since before dawn.

Some came with a wishlist: Rachelle Wright wanted laundry detergent and bleach so she could finally wash her bed linens. Joyce Bass said she showed up hoping to get a box or two of food, while Leola Johnson was hoping for paper towels and wash rags so she could begin cleaning her home now that electricity had been restored. Peaches Jones needed cleaning products.

Jones said she’s concerned that the public’s interest in helping tornado victims will soon wane.

“After this giveaway, what’s the next thing they’re going to do to help? How long are we going to have to live like this, because it will take us a long time to recover,� Jones said.

The Urban League will hold distribution events May 31, June 7 and June 14, and may continue beyond that, said McMillan said.

Volunteers from ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½-based companies, high schools, churches, families and individuals sorted through donations. Others boxed goods up, and still more placed into backseats and open trunks grocery sacks full of read-to-eat and easy-to-cook foods, toilet paper, pet food, paper towels, water, extension cords, boxes of trash bags, gloves, clothes and fresh fruits like watermelon and cantaloupes.

Dominque Mopkins said she showed up at 4 a.m. She has need of everything, she said.

“I am not picky.� Mopkins said. “Whatever I get will mean that I’ve been blessed.�

The line of vehicles wrapped around the block and down Page Boulevard, but moved steadily.

Among those volunteering was Laura Doumit, of Creve Coeur. She spent Saturday morning sorting items, such as shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste into large plastic totes, as they were unloaded from three semi-truck trailers that were parked in the parking lot.

“It is surreal to be here and to see how many people turned out to get help,� Doumit said. “And I know it is just a fraction of the people that need help, but I am happy to be here and to do my part.�

Others distributed supplies to people who didn’t have cars and walked to the Urban League’s headquarters.

McMillan described the scene of volunteers, many clad in brightly-colored t-shirts and neon vests, as a “United Nations of people from ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½.â€�

“You see black, you see white, you see every single race. You see every single demographic in terms of ZIP zip codes here,� he said. “We’ve had donations online from all over America, and while we are overwhelmed by the generosity, but we know that we’re going to need every bit of it. This is going to be a sprint and a marathon in terms of response.�