How to help tornado victims
Several nonprofits are collecting donations for tornado victims. Many indicated that financial donations are preferred over supplies.
Feed the Children has taken over the distribution of many distributed items since the organization has both the capacity to store the items and to transport them to the greatest areas of need, a spokesman said Tuesday.
The Salvation Army reported on Tuesday that it no longer can accept any in-kind donations due to “an amazing and overwhelming response from our community,” but that cash donations are welcome. Many organizations continue to request cash donations as the best way to meet the needs.
But for those still collecting items, Feed the Children has established nine locations in Oklahoma City to accept donations that will aid victims of the Moore tornadoes. They are: Feed The Children McCormick Distribution Center, 29 N McCormick;First Baptist Church, 1201 N Robinson; KOCO-TV, 1300 E Britton Rd.; Faith Tabernacle Church, Interstate 40 and Portland; TLC Garden Center, 105 W Memorial Rd., Continental Resources, 20 N Broadway; Bob Moore Parking Lot, 412 W Reno; Thermal Windows, 6405 NW 23, Bethany; and Cornerstone Church, 9900 SE 15, Midwest City.
Items that will be accepted at these locations are diapers, canned goods, non-perishable food and snack items, water and sports drinks. Cash donations are also welcome, especially since Feed the Children’s agreements with retailers allow the group to buy items for less cost than the general public, said spokesman Erin Engelke.
Engelke said the organization has been getting calls from nonprofits from all over the city because it has the space to handle all the donations. On Tuesday, the group distributed 160 disaster kits, which included cleaning supplies, work gloves and hygiene products, as well as paper towels to the tornado site.
“I don’t think there’s any question that we’re going to need this product,” Engelke said. “It’s going to take a long time for these families to regroup.”
By the end of the day, the community will have donated 100,000 pounds of relief items and Feed the Children corporate partners have pledged $500,000 in gifts in kind, a news release noted. Those commitments include donations from Crocs, TOMS, 4Life, Office Depot, Unilever, CVS, Nestle Purina Petcare, NASCAR Racing Foundation and Campbell Soup.
Cash donations to help with relief efforts can also be made by phone at (800) 627-4556, online at www.feedthechildren.org/disaster, or by texting “DISASTER” to 80888.
DONATION DROPOFFS
Many organizations are collecting supplies to aid with relief and recovery from the tornado, and they are providing locations for people to drop off their items. Top needs are bottled water, Gatorade-type sports drinks, work gloves, individually wrapped snacks, but each group lists slightly different things.
In addition to Feed the Children, mentioned above, here are the sites along with dropoff times and locations:
Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52, is serving as a dropoff point for relief donations, including bottled water, Gatorade-type sports drinks, diapers, baby wipes, baby formula and canned foods at the museum box office during operating hours. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.
In addition, residents of Shawnee and Moore who were displaced by the tornadoes will be given free museum admission through Friday. For more information, call 602-6664 or www.sciencemuseumok.org.
The Tuttle FFA is having a donation drive from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday in the Old Williams Parking Lot on Main Street. People are asked to bring bottled water, Gatorade, diapers, work gloves, baby wipes, individually wrapped snacks, baby formula, hand towels and nonperishable items.
Crossings Community Church, 2208 W Hefner, is now a donation site for bottled water and energy/sports drinks; nonperishable items, including protein and granola bars, diapers and work gloves. Drop off items between 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. weekdays. Also, financial donations can be made online at crossingsokc.org/giving. Sign in or create an account, select “missions” and then select “disaster relief fund” to send your donation directly to tornado relief.
Oklahoma State University’s Parking and Transit Services will be accepting donations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday in the parking lot at the intersection of Hall of Fame and Washington in Stillwater. Water, non-perishable food items, diapers, toiletries, snack foods, work gloves, Gatorade, sunscreen, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, ibuprofen, shovels, rakes and buckets are needed. No clothing. All items will be donated to the American Red Cross. For more information, call (405) 744-6260.
Lakehoma Church of Christ,2124 W State Highway 152 in Mustang, will be accepting donations of rescue supplies and personal items from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday. The donations collected will be donated to the American Red Cross. Requested items include water, Gatorade, blankets, pillows, shovels, gloves, non-perishable food items, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shaving cream, diapers, shampoo, conditioner, baby food and body wash. People can also bring donations after 7 p.m. Wednesday. Donations will go to the Red Cross. For more information, call 376-2883.
The Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre will solicit donations for disaster relief during its run of “Greater Tuna,” scheduled Friday through June 16 at the Civic Center Music Hall's Freede Little Theatre, 201 N Walker. For more information, call 848-3761.
Toy Base 10, 4028 NW 10, and Vintage Stock, 7407 N May, are collecting toys for those displaced by the Moore tornado. Toy Base 10 is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Vintage Stock is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 7 p.m. Sundays.
Quail Springs Baptist Church, 14613 N May, is requesting donations of water, Gatorade, wipes, individually wrapped snacks, hand sanitizer, diapers, baby formula, hand towels, work gloves and sunscreen. Items can be dropped off on the north side of the building. Checks can be made payable to QSBC Storm Relief. For more information, call 755-9240.
The Oklahoma City Ballet, 7421 N Classen, is accepting donations of baby wipes, paper towels, gallons of water, individually wrapped snack and food items and work gloves. Dropoff hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Donations will also be accepted from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Oklahoma CityUniversity, 2501 N Blackwelder. For more information, call 848-8637.
Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity will have a trailer at Lowes, 2555 Hemphill Dr., in Norman, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday to take in donations of supplies for the tornado victims. They are asking for supplies that include trailer water, food, formula, hygiene items, etc. For more information please contact Linda at Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity at 360-7868.
The TLC Garden Center at 13700 N Santa Fe is collecting emergency relief supplies from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday.m22 Bottled water, sports drinks, wipes, individually wrapped snacks, diapers, baby formula, hand towels, work gloves, rakes and shovels are requested. For more information, call 830-5964
The City of Yukon is accepting donations to help Moore tornado victims at the Yukon Police Department, 100 S Ranchwood Blvd. Bottled water, Gatorade, baby wipes, diapers, baby formula, hand towels, individually wrapped snacks, work gloves, shovels and dog food can be dropped off 24 hours a day through May 31. Checks will also be accepted. For more information, call 354-1711 or go to www.cityofyukonok.gov.
Rose State College’s Office of Student Activities is accepting donations of bottled water, canned goods, diapers, sports drinks and nonperishable food items at 6420 SE 15 in Midwest City. Monetary donations will be forwarded to the Oklahoma Red Cross. For more information, call 733-7458.
The Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Affiliated Companies’ main office at 2501 N Stiles, is accepting donations for those affected by the recent tornado. Critical items needed are bottled water, sports drinks, paper towels, disinfectant wipes, individually wrapped snack food, diapers, baby formula and work gloves. A trailer on the office’s west side will accept donations for as long as needed. For more information, call 523-2347.
Plaza Mayor at the Crossroads, 7000 Crossroads Blvd., has opened its doors to organizations working to provide supplies to those displaced by the Moore tornado. In addition to being a command post for the Red Cross, and a delivery, sorting and distribution point for the Salvation Army, Plaza Mayor is accepting donations at the mall’s southwest corner near the old J.C. Penney loading dock. For more information, call 631-4422.
The Kerr Foundation and Junior League of Oklahoma City are collecting professional clothing for women affected by the tornadoes. The group will accept blouses, dresses, poecketbooks and other wardrobe items for women preparing to return to work after the weather disaster may have demolished their wardrobes. The group will pick up items or you can drop them off at 12501 N May. 209-4777
St. Mary's Episcopal School, will serve as a dropoff location for donations to The Salvation Army 505 E Covell Rd, Edmond, 341-9541
Graceway Baptist Church will serve as a dropoff location for donations of bottled water, ready-to-eat food items, ibuprofen, band aids, gloves, batteries and hand sanitizer. 1100 SW 104. www.gracewayokc.org
DeVryUniversity is serving as donation dropoff location at 4013 Northwest Expressway, Suite 100 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Thursday. All donations will go to the American Red Cross. The site will accept bottled or filtered water containers, Gatorade, non-perishable food, pre-packed snacks, diapers, formula, wipes, hand sanitizers, gloves, trash bags, rakes, shovels, flashlights, batteries, sunscreen. No clothes, bedding or housing items accepted.
Infant Crisis Services is needing basic necessities for families with babies and toddlers affected by the tornadoes.
The agency is requesting items from its disaster relief wish list, which includes: Good Start Gentle formula, Good Start Soy formula, diapers (sizes 1-6), wipes, sippy cups, bottles, baby wash and blankets or quilts. All in-kind donations received in the coming weeks will be used to give direct and immediate support to babies and toddlers affected by the May 20 tornado.
Those interested in participating in the relief efforts should drop off items from our wish list at the following locations: Infant Crisis Services, 4224 N Lincoln Blvd., Kelly-Moore Paint Company, 108 24th Ave. SW, Norman; PlattCollege, 2727 W Memorial Rd.; all Oklahoma City metro Sprint locations;
CARNEY — Environmental Management Inc. in Carney has set up a donation dropoff at its facility at 5200 NE Highway 33 for items needed in Carney, where 37 homes were demolished and about 60 others are damaged.
Current needs are: leather work gloves, shovels, rakes, Gatorade and contractor trash bags. They do not need water or clothes.
Cherokee Hills Christian Church, 6228 NW 39th in Bethany, has been turned into a donation receiving center for work gloves, bottled water and Gatorade. Donations are also being accepted there. Make checks to CHCC and put “tornado relief” in the memo.
Oklahoma City Universityhas organized several relief efforts, including some to benefit about 20 members of the OCU community affected by the storms. Ongoing efforts and ways to help are listed at www.okcu.edu/relief. Items to aid victims can be dropped off at OCU’s Kramer School of Nursing East in the student lounge located at NW 27 and Blackwelder Avenue between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. weekdays. Donations needed as part of this student-led effort include non-perishable food, bottled water, sunscreen, work gloves, dust masks and flashlights. A full list can be found on the relief website. OCU’s Kappa Sigma fraternity also is accepting donations at their house located at 2412 N Virginia. Donations will be delivered to the Oklahoma Red Cross.
Kelly-Moore Paints stores in Oklahoma and Arkansas are collecting items on behalf of Goodwill and Infant Crisis Services. Items needed include: blankets, gloves, boots, dust masks, trash bags, sunblock, canned goods, nonperishable food and snack items, water and sports drinks.
Stores in Oklahoma are located in Lawton, Norman, Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma City, Bixby and Edmond. The Arkansas store is located in Fort Smith.
The Door Christian Fellowship at 1303 E Lockheed Drive in Midwest City is accepting donations of diapers and wipes, water, Gatorade, gloves, clothes, dog food, etc. For information, call 514-4403.
Oklahoma City University is accepting disaster relief donations from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays on the second floor of the Kramer School of Nursing East, at the corner of NW 27 and Blackwelder. Bottled water, non-perishable food items, sunscreen, work gloves, dust masks and flashlights are needed. OCU’s Kappa Sigma fraternity, 2412 N Virginia, is also accepting donations. For more information, call 208-5000 or go towww.okcu.edu/relief.
BethHavenBaptistChurch, 12400 S Western, is accepting donations and offering help and counseling to victims from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. For information, call 691-6990.Ö
CASH DONATIONS REQUESTED
Even though the Red Cross doesn’t need additional volunteers, the organization still is asking for monetary donations to buy needed supplies. To donate, go to www.redcross.org/okc, call 228-9500 or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation from your mobile device.
Those who are looking for family members can visit www.safeandwell.org, Garcia said. Local Red Cross units will be dispatched throughout the damaged area tonight.
“We're still assessing what we need and where we will be setting up shelters,” Garcia said. “We obviously don't want to get in the way of rescuers and we want to make sure it is safe but we know this will be a national relief effort.”
The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, in partnership with Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, is asking that the public support all rescue, recovery and disaster relief efforts with donations of cash to your favorite responding charity.
Financial donations will allow disaster relief agencies to purchase whatever items are deemed necessary without resulting in the additional burden of securing warehouse space and volunteers to work the donated product.
“The Regional Food Bank is coordinating efforts with other disaster relief agencies in our state to provide food and water for those in need,” Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Regional Food Bank. “What we and other disaster relief agencies will need most from the public is financial donations.”
To make a tax deductible donation to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, go towww.regionalfoodbank.org or call 604-7111or text FOOD to 32333 to give $10 to relief efforts.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is working through local United Methodist churches and trained disaster response workers to provide immediate relief, assistance with cleanup and rebuilding, pastoral counseling and support for children and youth who have been through trauma.
To donate or receive more information, go online to www.umcor.org.
With Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief teams already responding to severe weather from Sunday in several locations, including Shawnee, Edmond and Little Axe, Oklahoma Baptists are assisting with recovery efforts from the tornado that hit Moore.
UPDATE: Oklahoma Attorney General's Office
Investigators with the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office are investigating instances of price gouging and ask that anyone who experiences price gouging to contact the AG's Office immediately on the fraud hotline at (405) 521-2029. The practice is illegal.
Also, the first scams typically seen following such tragic situations is charity fraud. Please stay alert and only donate to reputable charities.
Also, the first scams typically seen following such tragic situations is charity fraud. Please stay alert and only donate to reputable charities.
Fund Established for Long-Term Needs of Oklahoma Tornado Victims
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin, in coordination with the United Way of Central Oklahoma, has established the OK Strong Disaster Relief Fund to assist with the long-term medical, emotional and educational needs of victims of the May 20 tornado in Moore and the May 19 tornado near Shawnee.
“We are appreciative and grateful for the outpouring of support for our state in the wake this week’s devastating tornadoes,” Fallin said. “The generosity of Oklahomans, Americans and people across the world is very encouraging and will help meet many of the short-term needs of victims. However, experience tells us there also will be long-term consequences to the challenges victims are facing. We hope the OK Strong Disaster Relief Fund can help meet those long-term needs. I very much appreciate the United Way of Central Oklahoma for their generosity and help in creating this fund.”
Donations for the long-term needs can be made by calling (405) 236-8441 or donating online at www.unitedwayokc.org.
“The United Way of Central Oklahoma is honored to assist as a recipient of donations for needs victims will have for the longer term,” said Debby Hampton, President and CEO of the United Way of Central Oklahoma. “We also look forward to working with Governor Fallin in the weeks ahead to develop a structure and process to most effectively utilize the contributions made to the OK Strong Disaster Relief Fund.”
Gov. Fallin Announces Federal Assistance Granted for Oklahomans Devastated by Tornadoes
Oklahoma City -- Gov. Mary Fallin announced today that the White House has approved the state's request for disaster assistance for five Oklahoma counties hit hard by this week’s deadly tornadoes.
The disaster assistance benefits individuals and business owners impacted by the severe storms that occurred May 18 and continuing in Cleveland, Lincoln, McClain, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie counties. Gov. Fallin noted with additional damage assessments other counties could be added to the declaration.
The announcement comes in the wake of three days of tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding, which killed more than 50 people and injured more than 120.
“We very much appreciate the support and quick action of President Obama in approving Oklahoma's request for federal disaster assistance in the wake of today's devastating storms," Governor Fallin said.
To apply for disaster assistance individuals and business owners may call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or go online at www.disasterassistance.gov.
The designation ensures federal assistance for housing repairs or temporary housing, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loans for individuals and businesses to repair or replace damaged property, disaster unemployment assistance, and grants for serious needs and necessary disaster expenses not met by other programs.
Additionally, the declaration grants public assistance for state and local governments in the five counties to assist with debris removal and emergency protective measures to include overtime for first responders. The declaration also provides direct federal assistance in the form of bottled water, blankets, meals-ready-to-eat and other bulk supplies.
Source: http://www.ok.gov/okstrong/
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