Tennessee Tornado Relief Efforts: How You Can Help

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Lightning 100 Staff
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(Last updated 3/13 at 1:30 p.m.

This week, Tennessee withstood immense damage after at least one tornado traveled across Benton, Davidson, Putnam, and Wilson counties, impacting many of our beloved neighbors’ homes and businesses.

While this disaster has been detrimental to thousands, it brings an opportunity to inspire goodwill and compassion within the community. Read on if you’re seeking ways to contribute to disaster relief in Middle Tennessee and beyond.

Below is a list of emergency shelters for tornado victims. All locations are also accepting donations

  • The Centennial Sportsplex – 222 2th Avenue N
  • East Magnet High School – 110 Gallatin Avenue
  • Victory Baptist Church – 1777 Tate Lane
  • Cookeville Community Center – 240 Carlen Drive
  • Putnam County YMCA – 235 Raider Drive
  • Pearl-Cohn High School – 904 26th Ave N
    *Don’t have a ride to the shelter? Get a free ride from LYFT with the code NASHRELIEF20

Volunteer Opportunities:

URGENT NOTICE: Public Works reports that utility workers are having difficulty reaching streets through volunteer parking in affected areas. Please prepare to rideshare/ carpool to these sites.

Hands On Nashville is a volunteer organization that works with the city to aid in natural disaster recovery. Sign up here to get involved.

Mt. Juliet Police are organizing a tornado cleanup. Click here to register.

The Donelson Fellowship created a schedule for people of all ages to participate in volunteer efforts. They are also accepting donations here.

Putnam County Young Democrats is organizing a cleanup on 3/8. Find out more here.

The West Nashville Dream Center is helping cleanup efforts in North Nashville. Stay tuned to their social media to find them and donate your time/ resources.

Opperation BBQ has deployed to Nashville and needs your help! Register to volunteer with them and feed those in need. They are also accepting donations here.

Follow Gideon’s Army social media for ways to help the North Nashville community. They are looking for volunteers to help with clean up and deliveries!

Apply to foster a displaced pet through Agape Animal Rescue.

Donations

Monetary Donations

The Community Foundation (CMFT) has a Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund that is accepting donations to support the affected communities and nonprofits helping victims address their ongoing needs. Click here to donate.

Pat Embry, CMFT director of media and community relations, stopped by the Lightning 100 studio to explain their mission and how donations will be allocated. Listen below

United Way is receiving donations for tornado victims with their Restore the Dream Fund. To donate, text RELIEF2020 to 41444.

Donate to help these local businesses rebuild their storefronts:

Two Ten Jack and The Green Pheasant are raising funds for the service industry community who’ve lost their jobs due to building damage and power outages. Click here to donate, all proceeds will go to purchasing Kroger gift cards for groceries for these individuals.

The Nashville Bartender’s Guild is organizing a fundraiser to benefit members of the service industry that need assistance with medical bills, loss of employment, home repairs or funeral costs. Click here to donate. There is also the 37206 Service Industry Tornado Relief that will begin distributing funds to restaurant workers in East Nashville starting March 9th.

Other Donation Options

UPDATE: The Community Resource Center is in high demand for the following items:

  • New blankets
  • Flashlights
  • Click here to view their Amazon wish list — items listed include:

Gideon’s Army Nashville is assisting North Nashville victims. They are accepting funds here and requesting the following items:

  • Baby formula!!
  • Diapers
  • Work gloves
  • Shovels
  • Push brooms
  • Boxes
  • Bleach
  • Blankets
  • Flashlights/ LED candles
  • Dishwashing liquid
  • Laundry detergent
  • Tarps
  • Bring clothing donations to Templeton Academy for sorting

Second Harvest Food Bank and The Nashville Food Project are always accepting food donations for those in need in Middle Tennessee. This need is currently in high demand. Their most requested items are listed below:

  • Pop-top canned foods
  • Ready-to-eat soups and stews
  • Cereal
  • Breakfast/ energy bars
  • Pantry essentials

American Red Cross is always accepting blood and platelet donations. Because of the overwhelming need, there is a blood shortage in many affected counties. Find donation locations here – if you need a ride to a donation center, Lyft is offering a free ride with the code NASHRELIEF20.

The Nashville Humane Association is giving out supplies to pet owners impacted by the storm and the items in highest demand are listed below. Keep a lookout for misplaced pets in Middle Tennessee and post across social media with @nashvillehumane to help reconnect them with their owner!

  • Bags of dog/ cat food
  • Stainless steel bowls
  • Blankets
  • Flashlights
  • Kennels/ carriers
  • Leashes/ collars
  • Monetary donations can be made here

Resources

Dial 311 for assistance in moving debris.

Call the Central Tennessee Home Cleanup Hotline (800-451-1954) if you need help removing debris until March 20th.

The Roof Store is offering free tarps for individuals to cover their roof after storm damage.

U-Haul is offering 30 days of free storage to tornado victims.

Airbnb is offering temporary housing for victims until March 24th.

The Oakley Lumber Company is offering to help rebuild Middle Tennessee by selling their product at-cost.

Navarre Corp is offering transport services to wheelchair-bound indivituals. Contact [email protected] or (229) 328-9182 for assistance.

River Queen Voyages has (3) 15-passenger vans to help transfer people/ food/ resources. Email [email protected] if you need transportation.

If you need help managing trauma, Middle Tennessee therapists are offering pro-bono counseling. Click here to book an appointment. There are also therapists available nationwide that are offering their services, learn more here.

Safe Haven is offering pro-bono services for crisis response to those affected by the tornado. For more information, email [email protected] or call (615) 241-6130.

The Onsite Foundation has organized an effort of independent and licensed therapists to support Middle Tennessee residents who have experienced the unimaginable and unexpected loss of homes, businesses, and human life. If you are in need of Crisis Support or Grief Counseling, please text 615-323-3191 to be connected to a licensed therapist in your community to schedule an appointment 

Call 1-800-985-5990 for a free 24/7 hotline for disaster distress.

Elephant Gallery is helping as a charging station and laundry drop off.

The Dive Motel is offering a safe space for victims that need access to wifi, power, or somewhere to sleep and act as a staging ground.

The Legal Aid Society’s clinics are available to all tornado victims. Here is a list of upcoming clinics:

  • Thursday, March 5, 4:30-6:30 p.m.: St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 908 Murfreesboro Road, Franklin, TN 37064
  • Tuesday, March 10, 4:30-6:30 p.m.: Gallatin Civic Center, 210 Albert Gallatin Avenue, Gallatin, TN 37066
  • Thursday, March 12, 3-5 p.m.: Greenhouse Ministries, 309 South Spring Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37130

Hair Stylist @your.mane.witch is providing complimentary hair wash and style until power is restored. She is located at August Pearl Salon in Nippers Corner. They are also willing to hire stylists that lost work due to the storm, email [email protected] for more details.

Look East is helping people replace their glasses and contacts that went missing or got damaged in the storm. They are also seeing patients with eye injuries for free.

Creative Mornings formed a community lost & found station. If you lost sentimental objects in the tornado, visit Center 615. There is a chance it ended up here. They have drop-off locations on street corners in North & East Nashville where they are collecting things like photos, artwork, toys, cards/ letters, and more.

Gibson Guitars is donating free guitars to any musician that had their guitar damaged or destroyed in the storm.

There are plenty of Restaurants offering free food to tornado victims and volunteers. Here is a list of the ones we know of so far (last updated 3/5 at 1PM):

Now Hiring:

Supporting Local Business

One the biggest things you can do to help our community is supporting local businesses! These companies in affected areas are now open for business.

Send an email to [email protected] if we are missing anything!

Lightning 100 Staff

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