Who Needs?

It's going to be raining this weekend.  Please let us know who needs construction materials to cover and patch holes so we can connect you with resources.

Birmingham Area Update

Starting this weekend, box trailers and flat bed trailers are desperately needed as well as warehouse workers for construction materials.  A warehouse has been donated at 32nd Street and 1st Avenue North Birmingham, AL.  The trailers will need to be at the Home Depot in Crestwood fora  donation drive.  This is being put together by the Christian Service Mission.  They have the warehouse and forklifts, but trucks are at a premium so any flatbed and box trailers and drivers are needed.

Contact Laura @ 205/789-2266

Hackleburg/Marion County Update

Update: We just returned from an overnight stay near the Hackleburg area.  After speaking with the Shiloh fire department and other emergency workers at length, here is an update from Marion County:
The Red Cross, FEMA and National Guard are in Hackleburg.  All donations for the general area are going to a warehouse at:

800 Bexar Ave East, Hamilton AL 35570
Contact Missy Huff @ 256-616-5679
to make sure that voluteers will be there to help unload any trucks.

This is a new warehouse location and distribution center that was just allocated today 5/5/2011.

There's no one specific thing needed in this area, but rather a wide list.  Contact Missy Huff for updates on what they have and need.

Generators

Much thanks to the wonderful people at the Red Cross for helping us get a truck/trailer load of gas powered generators to people in need. We should be on location in about 2 hours.

RUMC Tornado Relief 5/4/2011

The news today from the folks at http://riverchaseumc.org/
You can deliver donations to Riverchase Methodist Church for distribution.

Current needs:

Eye Drops

Chapstick

Nail files and Clippers

Pull Ups - Toddlers

Power Strips

Roofing Nails

Gatorade

Canned Soft Drinks

Household Cleaning Supplies

Laundry Detergent

Large containers of Season Salt

Bacon

Sausage

Large containers of grits

Large containers of oatmeal

These items may be dropped off in the lower kitchen in the Sanctuary building.

Sausage and bacon should go in the refrigerator or freezer in that kitchen. Place these items in a bag and label it "tornado relief."

BLOOD IS NEEDED: Tornado victims are using a great deal of blood.  Please call Red Cross or Life South and donate today.

Aldridge Community: Missionary Baptist is the drop zone (label as Aldridge.)  They need towels, wash cloths, underwear of all sizes...men, women, and kids, socks, storage bins, toys for kids.

Blue Cross Assists United Way Telethon for Tornado Relief Fund

A telethon to collect donations for the United Way of Central Alabama’s Tornado Relief Fund is currently taking place from 4 a.m. Wednesday, May 4,  until  2 a.m. Thursday, May 5. The telethon is staffed by the United Way Hands On Birmingham volunteers and is being broadcast by WVTM Alabama’s 13.  

HOW TO DONATE:  Phone: Call 1-855-205-HELP/1-855-205-4357.
(Note: The phone line will only be active during the Telethon, 5 a.m. EDT, Wednesday, May 4 to 3 a.m. EDT, Thursday, May 5)
Online:  http://www.uwca.org/
Mobile: Text TORNADO to 50555 to donate $10.
Mail: United Way Tornado Disaster Fund, P.O. Box 320189, Birmingham, AL 35232.

All donations will be handled and distributed by the UWCA Tornado Relief Fund. Donations will go toward the immediate needs of those most affected and to the long-term recovery and rebuilding effort. Callers may designate donations go to the United Way in any state affected by the deadly April 27, 2011 tornados. They simply make their request known when they call in to the donation center.

MT. HOPE, AL

We just returned from MT. HOPE, AL -- and here is a list of their needs they provided us with:
FOOD, they're cooking 3,000 meals daily!  (breakfasts/lunches/dinners)
Cleaning supplies, brooms, mops, buckets, large garbage bags.

PLEASE contact us if you have heavy equipment or refrigerated truck... these are a priority need. We will coordinate you with their contact.

Hueytown/Pleasant Grove Area

Today we  vistied the United Steelworkers who are in the pre-staging area in Pleasant Grove - they're asking if donators could please drop off at their union hall the following supplies:
Batteries.  9 volt, AA, AAA
Gas
Work gloves
Mops, brooms
Pillows and cases
Soy formula
Flashlights
Box cutters
Chainsaws and oil
Sunscreen

205-787-2842
3000 Park Road East
Pleasant Grove, AL  35127

Please note that if you want to volunteer in this area, you MUST first get a permit from the Mayor's Office.
205-410-6993
Donations however may be dropped off at the above pre-staging area without the need for a permit.

Cullman

Just got off the phone with the Cullman county food bank and they are in dire need of non-perishable food, bottled water, and baby diapers. They will be opening at 8:00 am tomorrow.  Contact info is 256-739-1111 or you can drop off your donations there at the Cullman County Office Bldg:
401 Arnold Street
Cullman, AL  35055
(Due to the damage take highway 157 to highway 278 into town)

Wells Fargo donates $225,000 to Red Cross for tornado relief

Wells Fargo bank is donating $225,000 to the American Red Cross for Alabama and Georgia in response to the devastating tornadoes that swept through the south Wednesday.

Wells Fargo customers affected by the storms in Alabama and Georgia should contact their bankers or visit their nearest Wells Fargo store to discuss financial options.

Affected customers can also contact the bank anytime at 1-800-869-3557.

http://blog.al.com/montgomery/2011/04/wells_fargo_donates_225000_to.html

Yankees donate $500,000 for tornado relief

Yankees general partner Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal said Friday that the team donated $250,000 to the American Red Cross and $250,000 to the Salvation Army to help rebuild communities in Alabama devastated by this week’s tornadoes.
Bombers setup man David Robertson is from Tuscaloosa and said his parents rode out the storms in their basements. None of his family or friends were injured in the storms, which kiled at least 318 people, many of them in Alabama.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/04/29/yankees-donate-500000-for-tornado-relief/

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama

This just announced:


In response to the storms and tornadoes last week that brought tremendous loss and damage to thousands of Alabamians, including many of their customers and employees, BCBSAL will be making a $500,000 contribution to the disaster recovery efforts led by the American Red Cross, the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund, and the Salvation Army.  Their corporate contribution will help with these local relief efforts and provide assistance needed by those customers and associates affected by this tragedy. 

They are also working together to take care of customers by temporarily suspending precertification requirements at hospitals in the geographical areas affected by the storms, and ensuring that they have access to prescription drugs without any interruption.

Pleasant Grove

We have just spoken to Pleasant Grove and they are in GREAT need of people with trucks, chainsaws, gloves, and anything to clean yards! PLEASE sheare this and if you can, go to the Family Life Center and see Julie Bates (she'll be right inside the door).
First Baptist Church Pleasant Grove
724 4th Street
Pleasant Grove, AL 35127

Please note that if you want to volunteer in this area, you MUST first get a permit from the Mayor's Office.
205-410-6993

Purpose

Our purpose is to get volunteers together for a rapid response program, to be there as the storm passes to clear a path for EMA police and fire, so they can get to the people who need them unimpeded. The fire department can't help injured people when they are bogged down removing trees to get there.


With today's technology, we can have the ability to see where a storm is and be there with in minutes to clear a path so people can get help. Some people as we speak are still trapped in their homes waiting for rescue to clear a way to them!  ‎"We can't control when or where an terrible storm may strike, we can control how we respond." President Barrack Obama on the Alabama tornado outbreak.


Please share this page and lets get the word out.  Let people know about us and together let's make a difference to people who need help as soon as possible in a time of crisis. Minutes matter.


Officially we are in the planning phase, getting the right people together to get the ball rolling. Meanwhile unofficially we are aiding efforts to connect resources to the people who are in need. It takes time for the larger organizations to bring in the larger relief and funds, but it's the individuals all over whose time and efforts make things happen. Even though officially we aren't a charity organization, we are on the ground getting to the donation centers and disaster areas trying to find out what's going on and what's needed.  Together we will make this happen!  We need support at this point so that as we form up we can get word out in times of need.

VANCE, AL

We just arrived at VANCE, AL and spoke to the team here.  They are in need of the following donations:

Vance Civic Center
18336 Highway 11 North
Vance, AL  35490
(right by City Hall and Marathon oil)

Flashlights, ANY toiletries (toothbrush/toothpaste, soap, etc), feminine products, pampers, adult diapers, sunscreen, bug repellant, sheets/bedding, underwear (NEW please), and clothes.  Pretty much anything you could donate, they could use!

BROOKWOOD, AL

As of 2:30 pm at Town Hall, we just spoke directly with the coordinator here,
RELIEF NEEDED!  The Coast Guard is there now but they have a great need for assistance still.

Please send donations to:
Town Hall
15689 Highway 216
Brookwood, AL 35444
(Come around behind)

Need VOLUNTEERS!

They greatly need lots of containers to store items, especially snap-shut tubs.  Food throughout the week would be helpful, and personal items (like chapstick, etc).
They are also in GREAT need of -- Port-a-poties, and those who can clean them.
Laundry service needed - reliable people who would take individuals' laundry away, wash it, and bring it back.  Need many Go Phones (charged please) with SIM cards.