Thursday, April 28, 2011

Tuscaloosa Tornado Relief

**Please note - I did not come up with this on my own. I saw it and thought it would be helpful to pass on. I've lived in AL and my heart goes out to all those affected. Thankfully I've heard from most of my family and friends there and everyone seems to be okay that I personally know**
Financial Support
  1. American Red Cross - You can text "REDCROSS" to 90999 to make a $10 general donation. You can also contribute to the American Red Cross Relief Fund either by calling 1-800-HELPNOW, visiting http://www.causes.com/causes/608753 or http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main&s_src=RSG00100E013&s_subsrc=ONR_MainDonateButton, or by sending money to: American Red Cross of West Alabama, 1100 15th St. E., Tuscaloosa, AL 35404. Be sure to specify that you want your donation to go to the Tuscaloosa tornado victims.
  2. Governor's Relief Fund - The governor of Alabama has also set up a relief fund: Governor's Tornado Relief Fund, Neighbor Helping Neighbor Inc., The Tuscaloosa News, P.O. Box 20187, Tuscaloosa, Ala., 35402-0187 or http://www.servealabama.gov/2010/2011%20Tornadoes/Response.aspx
  3. Convoy of Hope - is a faith-based organization with a driving passion to feed the world through children's feeding initiatives, community outreaches, disaster response and partner resourcing. http://www.convoyofhope.org/go/how/donate
  4. Salvation Army - To donate to The Salvation Army's relief work please call 1800-SALARMY or log onto www.salvationarmyusa.org. You can also text "GIVE" to 80888 to make a $10 general donation. Checks can be made out to the Salvation Army Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 100339, Atlanta, Ga., 30384-0339.
Atlanta, GA
  • 4/30, 3pm-5pm, Fundraiser at Hudson Grille Midtown, 942 Peachtree St. All money from Bama in Atlanta merchandise sold there will be donated to the cause. Sam Adams has also joined us and sale of Sam Adams will be donated as well. Donations will also be accepted.
Notasulga, AL
  • Whipporwill Vineyards is donating 10% of all sales, and will match that amount. 4282 County Road 31.


Supplies
Additional information on supplies will be provided in the coming days. Please avoid sending unsolicited donations of supplies directly to sites in Tuscaloosa.
  1. UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) has a list of items used in health kits, available at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies/health-kit/. You can gather these basic supplies and take the finished kits to a Methodist church and they will have systems to getting those to the disaster areas. Additional types of kits are also needed, such as bedding kits for displaced people and and bulk materials. Information on this option is available at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies/. Kits can also be shipped to: UMCOR West Office and Depot, Reverend Brian Diggs, Director, 1479 South 700 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84104-1605.
  2. Alabama School Library Association (ASLA) - The ASLA will be coordinating donations of books and supplies for school libraries in the coming weeks and months. You can learn more at http://www.alasla.org.
  3. Alabama Food Bank - http://www.alfoodbanks.org/ and http://www.westalabamafoodbank.org/. Text "FOOD" to 27722 to donate $10 to the West Alabama/Tuscaloosa Area Food bank. Paypal is also available.
  4. Convoy of Hope - Lamont spoke with Jeff Nene, public relations officer, at noon Thursday. Convoy of Hope's mobile command center is already enroute to Alabama; tractor trailers with food and water are on their way. Once COH has assessed needs, they will determine what further supplies to send. Currently, local churches in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham have offered to 'house' operations. COH will be working in conjunction with county, state, and federal emergency management organizations to set up distribution centers to insure areas of need are not overlooked. COH can provide both point of distribution and mobile distribution. Personal note: COH, if not the first, was one of first organizations to arrive in Picayune, Mississippi, (my hometown) following Hurricane Katrina. It's comforting to know they are heading to Alabama.
Alexander City, AL
  • Love Feeds and Stormy Bishop accepting donations of clothing, water and non-perishable food at Alex City Pawn Shop, 148 Calhoun St.
Andalusia and Opp, AL
  • Piggly Wiggly, Hollie's Bakery, and Huggins Sod Farm, in conjunction with the American Red Cross and WAAO will accept donations of food items, clothes, and supplies by filling the tractor trailers at Piggly Wiggly, 13759 Brooklyn Road, Andalusia, AL. Call 334-222-8698 for more information.
  • Toomer's for Tuscaloosa has a trailer being loaded at M&S Trucking Elba, AL 36323. Bring Non-perishable items, paper towels, hygiene products, baby needs, etc. Items will be delivered to Tuscaloosa as soon as truck is full.
Auburn, AL
  • Fire Station on Ross St.
  • ResourceMFG is seeking clothes, water, food, toiletries, household items, etc. until 5pm, 5/3. 2515 E. Glenn Ave., Suite 303-C. 331-501-1655.
Birmingham, AL
  • Church of the Highlands, Grants Mill Campus, South Parking lot. 5901 Overton Road or 3600 3rd Ave. South between 9:00am and 8:00pm. Information at http://www.churchofthehighlands.com
  • Coffee, water, diapers, unopened and prepackaged foods to Boutwell Auditorium, 1930 8th Ave. North.
  • Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil will place donation barrels throughout the festival site to collect donations for the Mid Alabama Region of the American Red Cross for Alabama tornado relief efforts. Community volunteers will also be present to assist with the fundraising efforts. Gates open at 4 p.m. Friday for the weekend event on the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex site (Richard Arrington Jr. Drive between 22nd and 24th Streets).
Calera, AL
  • Concord Baptist Church (11215 Highway 22) is accepting bottled water, canned food, and clothing. Please bring donations between 3pm and 9pm at the Student Center. Donations before 3pm should be brought to the church office.
Columbiana, AL
  • Cornerstone Christian School is collecting clothing, non-perishable food items and bottled water. Contact info: 24975 Highway 25 Columbiana, AL 35051, Phone 205-669-7777. Jason Edmondson of the Cornerstone Christian School Board is coordinating deliveries with EMA.
Demopolis, AL
  • Donations of tarps, non-perishable food, clothes, baby supplies. Bring to Christ the King Lutheran Church, 611 Riverchase Parkway West, on the 31 two lights south of the Galleria.
Greenville, AL
  • Liberty Fire Department will accept donations at the Butler County Courthouse parking lot from 8am-4pm on 4/29 and 8am-4pm on 4/30.
Hoover, AL
  • Bruno's Supermarket (corner of Highway 31 and Lorna Road) is accepting bottled water ONLY beginning at 2:30pm on 4/28.
Leeds, AL
  • Cedar Grove Baptist Church, 2001 Cedar Grove Rd, will open their banquet hall of the church for anyone that needs dinner tonight. It opens at 5 pm and is open to anyone that needs help. The church telephone number is (205) 699-8446.
Mobile, AL
  • WABB at 1551 Springhill Ave. Bottled water, clothes, cleaning supplies, and cash donations. 4/29, 7am-5pm.
Montgomery, AL
Moody Spring, Springville, Odenville, AL
  • Springville volunteers. Contact Christa Hawkins or Gia Wanninger (205) 910-1628 or (205) 527-2462. Donation requests: Tarps, rolls of plastic, blankets, clothing - (all sizes, t-shirts, jeans, shorts, children's clothing), feminine products, diapers, baby food, toys for smaller kids, band-Aids, socks, jackets, bottled water, chips, juice (individual), packaged food for distribution, fruit cups, paper towels, Kleenex, toilet paper. Area planned to service: Moody and surrounding areas. The Bradford Road Bunch.
Oxford, AL
  • Friendship Community Church, 1760 Friendship Rd, www.friendshipcc.net Need blankets, clothing (all sizes and types, including children's), diapers, feminine products, baby food.
Pelham, AL
  • Master's House Ministries will be delivering food (ready to eat), water, baby food, diapers, & wipes to tornado victims. 135 Corporate Way, 205-276-9863.
Phenix City, AL
  • Colony Furniture accepting bottled watter, cleaning supplies, toiletry items and paper goods until Tuesday, 5/3.
Prattville, AL
  • Hope for the Forgotten Ministry/Women of Worth accepting donations at the Destiny Christian Center, Instyle Hair Studio, and ReThreads.
Tallassee, AL
  • Ben Atkinson Motors collecting non-perishable items. 8am-6pm, 4/28, 4/29 and 4/30.
Troy, AL
  • Terracotta, 351 Montgomery Street, is accepting canned food, bottled water, blankets, clothes, diapers, baby supplies, and other non-perishable supplies. Monetary donations are also accepted. Call 334-566-9393.
Tuscaloosa, AL
  • Image Makers Salon (University Blvd) is an official location drop off location for Tuscaloosa. Clothes, food, water, personal care items, blankets, pillows, etc. 205-366-1986.
Valley, AL
  • Non-perishable items accepted at Chambley's until 4/30. Includes non-perishable food, water, personal items, baby items, etc.


Life Support
  1. Donate blood at any Red Cross site near you. Visit http://www.redcrossblood.org/our-regions and type in your zip code to find the closest center.
Tallassee, AL
  • Blood drive at Dollar General (beside Wal Mart), 10am-4pm, 4/30.
Volunteers
TBD. If you are close to the Tuscaloosa area and want to volunteer, please stand by. People are being discouraged from entering the area right now, but your assistance will be needed in the very near future. It is best to volunteer as a part of an organized effort rather than as an individual; more information will be provided.
  1. Toomers for Tuscaloosa - Information pending at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toomers-for-Tuscaloosa/127019264041188
  2. United Way of Central Alabama - Call 211. United Way will match volunteers with needs once they've assessed the situation.

Birmingham, AL
Pelham, AL
  • Separating clothes at Master's House Ministries @ 6:30, 4/28.
Tuscaloosa, AL

  • St. Mathias Church, sign up from noon until dark on 4/28, 1230 Skyland Blvd. via route I-359 (across from Walmart). Tuscaloosa County Spontaneous Volunteer Management Team will host the Volunteer Reception Center. The Volunteer Reception Center will be open on Friday, April 29, 2011 and Saturday, April 30, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. until dark. ALL individuals wishing to volunteer should report to St. Mathias Episcopal Church for instructions on where to volunteer and what volunteer needs are available. For shelter and help with missing persons, please visit the Belk Activity Center located at 2101 Bowers Park Drive in Tuscaloosa. Contact Rusty Smith with the United Way of West Alabama at 205-345-6640 ***Update, 1:21CDT 4/28 - St. Mathias is full with volunteers and will be contacting existing volunteers tomorrow. Please stop in and give your contact information for follow up tomorrow. Volunteers with medical skills are especially needed.***
  • Tuscaloosa area volunteers may call Nancy Green at 205-561-4169 for information on how to help.
  • We are in the process of talking with Tuscaloosa City officials and university staff and getting a campaign for relief together for all the families, students, and our friends that were affected by the tornadoes today. We will be posting details throughout the night. We will also taking our Mobile Catering Unit to Tuscaloosa on Friday to feed those at the relief shelters. Anyone interested in helping please call 641-5246 (Johnny Rays Chelsea).


Other:
  1. Host a fundraiser in your own community.
  2. Ask friends, neighbors, and local stores for donations of needed supplies.
  3. If you are nearby, consider volunteering for cleanup and service work. Many organizations, such as the Red Cross and Salvation Army, train people and facilitate volunteer efforts in communities experiencing natural disaster. Contact your local center for additional information.
  4. Organize a community-wide relief day in your town. Ask that local businesses dedicate a percentage of proceeds from the day to tornado relief in Tuscaloosa.
Information:
  1. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a number of available resource links. Its main page is: http://www.fema.gov/. For information specific to the Alabama storms and tornado: http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=14192 (Note: This page includes links to the Alabama Office of the Governor and Alabama Emergency Management.)
  2. To check or update the status of a friend, professor, or colleague in the SLIS program, visit:https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Aqb74RLLufsbdHBTYjZUbkhDT0RYMnBIUllWTklQMVE&hl=en
  3. The Red Cross maintains a Safe and Well database (https://safeandwell.communityos.org/zf/safesearch/search) as "a way for people affected by a disaster to enter information regarding their welfare so family and friends can check their status. Because people self-register, the Red Cross cannot verify the information and is not responsible for any inaccuracies."
  4. UA's Emergency Call Center: 348-1001 or 877-408-1001
  5. UA Weather Updates: http://www.ua.edu/weather/
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