Community Foundations Respond to Tornado Devastation—

How You Can Help with the Relief Efforts

May 4, 2011 - The images from the tornadoes that literally destroyed entire towns throughout Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee are tragic. The loss of property is mind-boggling. Cars, houses, trees all balled together in an unimaginable way. But the loss of life is the truly heartbreaking damage that simply can’t be repaired.

While we know there is nothing we can do to bring back lost lives, our empathy and our assistance can ease another’s pain. The way we reach out to each other in times of crisis makes all the difference…it can serve as that glimmer of sunlight that pokes through the dark skies; warm and reassuring.

In that vein, the many Community Foundations throughout the tornado torn states have activated relief efforts for their communities. CFGNB is pleased to provide you with a list of trusted ways you can join in:

• Go to the "DONATE NOW" button at http://www.foundationbirmingham.org/ to make a secure online gift. 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 the Red Cross Mid-Alabama Region, the Salvation Army, United Way of Central Alabama, and Hands On Birmingham.
• The Central Alabama Community Foundation has set up the AL Cares fund. Donors may make online contributions by visiting the foundation’s website.
• 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 http://www.blackbeltfound.org/.
• The Community Foundation of Central Georgia has established the Barnesville-Lamar Community Foundation Tornado Relief Fund to assist people affected by the tornados there. The Barnesville-Lamar Community Foundation is a regional affiliate of CFCG. Online donations are welcomed and more info is available at https://www.cfcga.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=647.
• Click the "Donate" button to make online donations at the "Tornado Relief" fund. the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
• The East Tennessee Foundation has set up a fund to assist people in that area. Donors can make online donations by going to the homepage and looking for the Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund of East Tennessee Foundation.

CFGNB exists to connect you with “causes that matter” in your own community and, when your caring stretches beyond our boundaries, in our nation or the world.