The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is accepting donations for its Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund to help provide relief and recovery assistance to all affected Middle Tennessee communities. Tornadoes touched in Dickson, Kingston Springs and Burns in Dickson County; Humphreys, Stewart, and Hickman counties; as well as parts of Davidson County, Sumner County, and Mt. Juliet in Wilson County. Donations can be made at cfmt.org/tornado2021.
Despite extensive damage, Middle Tennessee was spared the brunt of the storms. They left a path of death and destruction from Arkansas and Missouri through Tennessee, Kentucky.
Per usual, Middle Tennesseans want to help the survivors. We’ve been through this, way too often and way too recently.
To Donate:
- Donations to the Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund will provide relief and recovery assistance to all affected Middle Tennessee counties. Grants from the response funds will be made to nonprofits providing vital services both immediate and long-term. CFMT’s work helps free up nonprofits to concentrate on delivering vital services while we “connect generosity with need,” and our community sets out to rebuild lives. To make a gift to the Fund, visit cfmt.org/tornado2021.
“At The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, we believe that if we CAN help we SHOULD help — and so for the past nearly 30 years, we have provided ways to make giving to disaster response easy for both the donor and the recipients,” said Ellen Lehman, president of The Community Foundation.
CFMT has been responding to disaster since 1993, just two years after the organization was founded. In its longtime role in responding to the needs of the community during disasters near and far — beginning in 1993-94 with Nashville winter snow and ice storms along with Japanese tsunamis — its team helps bring calm to chaos.
- Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has established the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund to assist those impacted by the tornadoes and severe weather over the weekend. Go to kentucky.gov/formservices/Finance/WKYRelief or mail a check to Public Protection Cabinet, with Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund in the memo line to Public Protection Cabinet, 500 Mero Street, 218 NC, Frankfort, KY 40601.
More Information for Survivors, Volunteers
· For the Tennessee statewide crisis telephone line, Call 855-CRISIS-1 (855-274-7471) to speak with a caring, trained mental health professional, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, if you are experiencing a mental health emergency. You can also text TN to 741741.
· The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) launched a website for those affected by the storms across the state. The website is at tn.gov/tema/get-involved/december-severe-weather.html
· TEMA also announced a Crisis Cleanup service is in place for Tennesseans who need help with cleaning up following the severe weather and tornadoes. Individuals needing assistance can call the hotline at 800-451-1954.
· Volunteers can connect with Tennessee Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) at tnvoad.org/donate.
· The American Red Cross of Tennessee continues to serve those affected by the severe weather. Emergency assistance is available to individuals whose homes were destroyed or majorly impacted. For more information, contact the American Red Cross by call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
About The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
The Community Foundation exists to promote and facilitate giving in the 40 counties of Middle Tennessee and beyond. It does this by accepting gifts of any size from anyone at any time and by empowering individuals, families, companies, nonprofits, and communities to respond to needs and opportunities that matter. The Community Foundation works with people who have great hearts, whether or not they have great wealth, to craft solutions that reflect the intentions and goals of their charitable endeavors. For more information, call 615-321-4939 or visit www.cfmt.org.
Photo Credit Brett Carlsen | Getty Images
