The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham issued this statement about how to help.
The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham has established the Alabama Tornado Recovery Fund to accept gifts that will in turn be used throughout the state in the regions impacted by the April 27 tornadoes.
“We will work with other community foundations serving all these areas to effectively deploy these additional resources that will be needed for long-term recovery,” said Community Foundation president Kate Nielsen. “The choice to house the Alabama Tornado Recovery Fund at The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham follows a model used by community foundations in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.”
For people interested in making a gift to local, long-term recovery needs in Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Walker and Blount counties, The Community Foundation will continue to use the Emergency Response Fund. This fund was established in the wake of the F5 tornado in 1998 and was used again following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to assist evacuees in the Birmingham area. Other community foundations throughout the state also are accepting donations for local needs in their areas.
Go to the DONATE NOW button at www.foundationbirmingham.org to make a secure on-line gift and specify the Alabama Tornado Recovery Fund for statewide relief or the Emergency Response Fund for local relief. Contact Emily Rushing at 205-873-0942 (cell) or 205-327-3806 (office) for more information.
The Community Foundation also encourages people to continue to direct gifts of time and money to agencies that serve as first responders, including Red Cross Mid Alabama Region, Salvation Army, United Way of Central Alabama and Hands On Birmingham.
The Black Belt Community Foundation has set up the Communities Helping Communities Relief Fund. Donors may make online contributions by visiting the foundation’s website at www.blackbeltfound.org. Monies from the fund will be disbursed under the oversight of the Foundation and its local advisory boards in the affected areas.
