You Heard About The Lootings In Ferguson. Here Are The People Cleaning Up The Mess.

Cleanup has begun in Ferguson, Missouri, after a night of unrest following a grand jury's decision to not indict officer Darren Wilson for the fatal shooting of Michael Brown.

Hundreds of people, including university students and local nuns, gathered Tuesday to help those affected along South Florissant Road, according to St. Louis Today. Bricks were thrown through windows and shops were destroyed, but the arrival of good Samaritans offered a glimmer of hope.

"This is the Ferguson community," Maria Flores, 66, whose El Palenque restaurant was damaged Monday night, told St. Louis Today. "When something happens, everyone is there helping each other.''

Terrence Williams, a 23-year-old St. Louis native, headed out Tuesday morning to help repair his broken community.

"I just watched last night from my television and this morning I was like, 'You know what? While they're out there bringing negativity, I'm [gonna] come out and try to breed at least some kind of positivity, let them know that everybody in St. Louis is not negative,'" he told The Huffington Post. "If that means that I have to be out here every single day after they loot, after they vandalize, then I will do that simply to let people know that I love St. Louis, this is where I was born and raised, and no one will come here and tear it down."

Terrence Williams, 23, has been out here cleaning up since 7 a.m. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/JIrDTjq65z
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) November 25, 2014

Just met @bellecamino . She & her kids decided to come out help clean up the streets along Grand. @ksdknews pic.twitter.com/mDr34fpFR1
— Grant Bissell (@gbissellKSDK) November 25, 2014

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A post shared by Scott Georges (@georges_arts) on Nov 25, 2014 at 7:43am PST

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#Ferguson handing out water and donuts to group cleaning. https://t.co/PMzA9YMefl
— Gabrielle K (@UphillLife) November 25, 2014

@GabbyAnneK embedded via Twitter

Volunteers sweep broken glass at Snappy's Bar & Grill in #Ferguson. pic.twitter.com/K3sNKwXL1z
— Moni Basu (@TheMoniBasu) November 25, 2014

@MbasuCNN embedded via Twitter

Cleaning up in #Ferguson Tuesday morning. pic.twitter.com/NMcV7tesH0
— Moni Basu (@TheMoniBasu) November 25, 2014

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A post shared by Mariana Atencio (@marianaatencio) on Nov 25, 2014 at 6:26am PST

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Cleaning up and hauling the mess out. Another community cleanup crew. S. Florissant. The morning after. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/Kp4qu3nRkh
— Charles Wade (@akacharleswade) November 25, 2014

@akacharleswade embedded via Twitter

Craig is helping with the clean up #ferguson pic.twitter.com/LEDtBKOOF6
— Rajini Vaidyanathan (@BBCRajiniV) November 25, 2014

@rajiniv embedded via Twitter

#Ferguson clean up pic.twitter.com/wMAEv6ZuJn
— Gabrielle K (@UphillLife) November 25, 2014

@GabyAnneK embedded via Twitter

Clean up at #Ferguson coffee shop, neighbors w brooms & $$ to support businesses pic.twitter.com/7ICdMGSscQ
— Evan Pérez (@evanperez) November 25, 2014

@evanperez embedded via Twitter

Ferguson was hit with looting and arson after St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch announced that Wilson would not be indicted for the Aug. 9 shooting of 18-year-old Brown, who was unarmed at the time of his death.

The St. Louis County Police posted about Monday night's protests on Facebook, writing: "What we saw tonight was much worse than what we saw any night in August. Bricks were thrown at police officers, two St. Louis County police cars were set on fire and police seized an automatic weapon."

Missouri Highway Patrol Chief Ron Johnson condemned the looting and violence during a press conference Tuesday morning.

"Those are dreams. Those are small business owners. We've torn those dreams away," he said. "Our community has to take responsibility for what happened tonight. We definitely have done something here that is gonna impact our community for a long time. That's not how we create change."

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Before You Go

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jordan Johnson, left, 8, from Washington, Camille Chrysostom of Bowie, Md., and Jaimee Swift of Philadelphia, observe a moment of silence at Meridian Hill Park, also known as Malcom X Park, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014 in Washington, to protest the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by police in Ferguson, Mo. Vigils were held across the country for people organizers say died at the hands of police brutality. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

People in a crowd hold signs and listen to speakers at a demonstration on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, in Decatur, Georgia, in the town square. The demonstration of more than 200 people was held in response to the shooting death of Michael Brown and following unrest in Ferguson, Missouri. (AP Photo/ Ron Harris)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

An unidentified man holds a banner on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, in Decatur, Georgia, in the town square. The demonstration of more than 200 people was held in response to the shooting death of Michael Brown and following unrest in Ferguson, Missouri. (AP Photo/ Ron Harris)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

An unidentified man wearing a crown listens as a speaker addresses the crowd on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, in Decatur, Georgia. The demonstration of more than 200 people was held in response to the shooting death of Michael Brown and following unrest in Ferguson, Missouri. (AP Photo/ Ron Harris)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Protesters march through Leimert Park to protest the shooting of an unarmed man in Ferguson, Mo., and other victims of police shootings, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Protesters walk in the middle of Crenshaw Blvd. to protest the shooting of an unarmed man in Ferguson, Missouri and other victims of police shootings, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Demonstrators peacefully gather Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, at the site where Michael Brown was shot and killed by police in Ferguson, Mo. The Missouri Highway Patrol seized control of a St. Louis suburb Thursday, stripping local police of their law-enforcement authority after four days of clashes between officers in riot gear and furious crowds protesting the death of an unarmed black teen shot by an officer. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

A demonstrator holds up a sign Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, at the site where Michael Brown was shot and killed by police in Ferguson, Mo. The Missouri Highway Patrol seized control of a St. Louis suburb Thursday, stripping local police of their law-enforcement authority after four days of clashes between officers in riot gear and furious crowds protesting the death of an unarmed black teen shot by an officer. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rev. Traci Blackmon uses a megaphone to talk to a large group of demonstrators Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, at the site where Michael Brown was shot and killed by police in Ferguson, Mo. The Missouri Highway Patrol seized control of a St. Louis suburb Thursday, stripping local police of their law-enforcement authority after four days of clashes between officers in riot gear and furious crowds protesting the death of an unarmed black teen shot by an officer. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Thousands of demonstrators peacefully march down a street with members of the St. Louis County Police and Missouri Highway Patrol Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. The Missouri Highway Patrol seized control of a St. Louis suburb Thursday, stripping local police of their law-enforcement authority after four days of clashes between officers in riot gear and furious crowds protesting the death of an unarmed black teen shot by an officer. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Demonstraters peacefully march down a street Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. The Missouri Highway Patrol seized control of a St. Louis suburb Thursday, stripping local police of their law-enforcement authority after four days of clashes between officers in riot gear and furious crowds protesting the death of an unarmed black teen shot by an officer. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Protesters march in New York Cityâs Union Square, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014. Vigils are being held across the country for people organizers say died at the hands of police brutality. The events come in the wake of the shooting death of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, and the death of a New York City man caused by a police officer's apparent chokehold. (AP Photo/Michael R. Sisak)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

About 1000 people march peacefully in New York Cityâs Union Square, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014. Vigils are being held across the country for people organizers say died at the hands of police brutality. The events come in the wake of the shooting death of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, and the death of a New York City man caused by a police officer's apparent chokehold. (AP Photo/Michael R. Sisak)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Demonstrators hold candles and signs Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. Hundreds of people protesting the death of Michael Brown marched through the streets of Ferguson alongside state troopers Thursday. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Supporters raise their hands during a rally at Meridian Hill Park, also known as Malcom X Park, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014 in Washington, to protest the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by police in Ferguson, Mo. Vigils were held across the country for people organizers say died at the hands of police brutality. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

A group of women take part in a candlelight vigil in New York, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, after nearly 1000 people marched in New Yorkâs Union Square. Vigils are being held across the country for people organizers say died at the hands of police brutality. The events come in the wake of the shooting death of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, and the death of a New York City man caused by a police officer's apparent chokehold. (AP Photo/Michael R. Sisak)

Scott Olson via Getty Images

FERGUSON, MO - AUGUST 14: Capt. Ronald Johnson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, who was appointed by the governor to take control of security operations in the city of Ferguson, walks among demonstrators gathered along West Florissant Avenue on August 14, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Violent protests have erupted along West Florissant in Ferguson each of the last four nights as demonstrators express outrage over the shooting death of Michael Brown by a Ferguson police officer on August 9.The governor appointed Johnson after receiving numerous complaints about the excessive show and use of force by the police against protestors and the news media covering the demonstrations. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) today called for the demilitarization of the police. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)