(WSBT) Nappanee remained under a state of emergency Sunday night as cleanup continues from last Thursday's devastating tornado.

The tornado ripped through the area destroying and damaging several homes. Thousands gathered Sunday morning for a community cleanup at Northwood High School.

Volunteers backed up traffic for nearly ten miles and packed the parking lots up and down State Road 19. Thousands turned out in hopes of helping out.

"We've been waiting in line probably about an hour," Tricia Carmack said.

"We came from Elkhart on State Road 19 and we waited at least 30 minutes in line," said Jared Huss.

But as the buses loaded up, the people kept coming, eventually forcing organizers to start turning volunteers away.

"As many people as were sent out, were turned away," said Nappanee Police Chaplain Terry Tyler. "My rough guess at this point is that we probably sent out at least 2,400 or 2,500 people."

"I'm thrilled I was turned away because that means this town is brimming with love and support," said Rebecca Roberts.

For those who did help out, it was a chance to show their support for the families devastated by the tornado.

"I came out to help because they just need so much help and if this happened to me or my family, someone would help me like this," said volunteer Bobbi Kosins.

The cleanup was divided into five work zones. One of them was at the Blackstone subdivision where volunteers picked up debris like insulation from homes hit by the tornado.

"We've been picking up like glass or stuff that's blown off the house like shingles," said Jordan Kosins.

Volunteers are leaving a community struck by tragedy a little bit cleaner and a whole lot stronger.

"They're able to work together as a group and you see all kinds of ethnicities out here and it was just great to see the total community involvement," Huss said.

"The city of Nappanee is so grateful. We knew that the response would be good, but it went far beyond anything that we even expected," Police Chaplain Tyler said.

Organizers say they turned people away because there weren't enough buses and safe areas to clean up.