16 In Life

Helping Alabama

I am sad. My heart breaks over and over again as I see images, hear accounts, and watch videos. These storms were powerful, ugly and so many people have died and are still missing. I ask you to please continue to pray for all who were affected.  I was just looking at AL.com and they have lists of those deceased and beside the names they provide ages. A 17 month-old little girl was killed and it was noted her twin sister is fighting for her life at Children’s Hospital. People of all ages have been killed all across the state. People are still missing. The devastation is so great. Please see the opportunities listed below if you are interested in helping but unsure what direction to turn. Thank you, to those of you who provided information below. If you have additional ways to help that you would like to me to post please continue to comment and I will add them to this post. This has been my prayer for all who are suffering…

The Lord heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit. Psalm 147: 3-5

  • MAY 19th Lemonade Stand for victims: Though my children are pretty young, I also want to find ways for them to help. The 4K class at our preschool is having a lemonade stand to raise money. This will be at St. Luke’s Day School {3736 Montrose Road Birmingham, AL 35213-3800} on Thursday May 19th from 10:00 – 1:00. Last year my daughter’s class raised over $1300 for the tornado victims in Albertsville and flood victims in Nashville {https://ccscreativecreations.blogspot.com/2010/05/its-more-than.html}. Hopefully through opportunities such as this we are helping our children learn life lessons while also helping the community of our great state.
  • University of Alabama Greek Relief: I am a current student at The University of Alabama and have been involved over the past 8 days with UA Greek Relief. UA Greek Relief has been an operation coordinated by members of the Greek System at Alabama and has been taking donations of any kind and providing hot meals to families in Tuscaloosa and surrounding areas. At one point, we accounted for 1/3 of the hot meals provided in Tuscaloosa that day. Overall, we have plated and served over 40,000 meals and collected thousands of pounds of canned goods and non-perishable items. Combined with the efforts of Delta Kappa Epsilon’s national foundation, the UA Greek Relief team has set up a fund. Today (Friday May 6th) is the last day for physical donations and cooking meals, but from now on UA Greek Relief is accepting monetary donations on their website to go towards long-term relief efforts in Tuscaloosa. Please visit the link here if you would like to contribute: https://uagreekrelief.com/Donate.html
  • The Junior League of Birmingham has received donations totaling $7,848 as of Monday morning May 2nd. We will continue to accept monetary donations through Friday May 20th and will match all monetary donations received dollar for dollar up to $20,000. You can donate online at the JLB website https://www.jlbonline.com or mail a check to the Junior League Building at 2212 20th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35223. Ways to Volunteer – Immediately UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL ALABAMA – 211 Information Hotline. The United Way of Central Alabama needs help fielding the overwhelming volume of calls into their 211 information hotline, which helps storm victims by providing them with contact information for the many different agencies providing services. There are five shifts every day through Friday, May 6, 2011. You will report to the United Way at 3600 Eighth Avenue South. You will be given specific instructions on where to report once you have been confirmed. Please wear your Junior League of Birmingham t-shirt. To help, please email Hailey Hutchinson at hhutchinson@uwca.org . She is a JLB member and is coordinating volunteers for UWCA. The JLB is NOT scheduling these volunteers. These are FOUR HOUR SHIFTS beginning at 4:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m. Register with Hands on Birmingham at https://www.handsonbirmingham.org The Junior League is continuing to work with local officials to discuss how our members can be a part of the recovery efforts that are facing our community. As we learn of new opportunities to assist in rebuilding the lives of those in our community affected by the storm we will pass them along to our members. Thank you again for your commitment to our mission and the women and children of our community.
  • Mother’s Day Gifts for Pleasant Grove Elementary Students: {From Brenda} I have volunteered to help with a donation drive for Mothers Day Gifts for Pleasant Grove Elementary School children to pick for their Mommy. I know this is very last minute, but the children only returned to school today, and Mother’s Day is this weekend, so with a prayer, and hard work , we are taking this on. We have permission from the school to set up in their library on Friday . The children will be allowed to pick a gift of their choice for their mom, then we will have gift bags and tissue for wrapping. We feel this is a small start toward the return to a life that they had before the storm. The school has 703 children enrolled, and today 556 attended, which surprised the officials. The parents all felt school, and routine was good for them. I have been out there since the day after, and I can say……it’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen. I read often about your Birmingham friends, and was hoping you might be able to help spread the word, of our need. We are believing God for enough Gifts, and must admit that 700 ish gifts in 2 days is insane, but response is good so far, and the power of prayer is all we need. There is a facebook page set up for this. We are asking for a new gift, but certainly not expecting expensive gifts. Also donations of bags and tissue are needed,as well as volunteers for that day. If you feel led to mention this, or even like the fb page , I know it would be a blessed help. Tomorrow we will have the other drop off locations, but The Church of the Highlands Grants Mill will be one, and Long Lewis Ford/ Hoover. Maybe you have a friend that owns a business that would allow donation drop offs???? They must be in Hoover/280 area, unless someone from another city is willing to collect and bring them to Pleasant Grove on Friday morning. My email address is brendaebelcher@att.net they may email me if they can donate multiple amounts, or if they want to donate the gift of their time….I can also help distribute supplies through Church of the Highlands if you know of any group wanting to know where to send items in general to the disaster relief.
  • Jesus Storybook Bibles for Children in Great Need: I just wanted to tell you about something some of us are working on to help the tornado victims. We are collecting the Jesus Storybook Bible to give out to the children, in hopes that it will minister not only to them but to their parents as well (I know you love that Bible as much as I do). Please check out the Sharing His Story FB page or the blog https://www.sharinghisstoryal.blogspot.com/ to read more about it. We want to send His word to as many people as possible!!
  • Knapsacks for Needs: Hey, would love for you to share our link https://www.jlmorgancounty.com or you can share my blog post!!! thank you!
  • Shelter for the South {my friend Abby posted about this one yesterday}  https://www.shelterforthesouth.com/
  • I am a student at UA, the church I attend there…Calvary Baptist Church has setup both long-term and short-term solutions. This involves ways to give and serve, again both now and in 6 months from now to help the people get their lives back together. https://www.calvarytuscaloosa.org/tornadorelief/ This is a direct link to all of their tornado relief information!
  • Church of Highlands has an informational website with a ton information of what is most needed and how people can help! They seem to be partnering with a lot of churches, including https://www.newspring.cc/ in South Carolina.
  • BOOKS! BOOKS! BOOKS! The schools in Hackleburg were destroyed, as was most of the town by the EF5 tornado. Most of the classroom libraries were destroyed as well. To help build the library back up, book collection is being accepted at the Hamilton Rec Center, 371 7th Ave SW, Hamilton AL 35570. A great idea for getting your child involved is letting them send a book matching their grade level.
  • The American Red Cross Just for others to know, in case they didn’t already, if you are donating through the American Red Cross (https://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main&s_src=RSG000000000&s_subsrc=RCO_NewsArticle), you can specify where you want your funds to go (ie to tornado disasters) so that the funding is directly given to those most in need.
  • Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund is taking donations at ServeAlabama.gov. It will cover things that FEMA/Emergency budgets won’t cover. It will eventually also provide grants for businesses to get back together.
  • Toomers for Tuscaloosa {Toomers4Tuscaloosa.com} has sites across the nation where drop offs are being held and contact information. Not only are T4T supporting Tuscaloosa, but also all affected counties. Seriously amazing work is being done by these students! (war eagle to that!)
  • Volunteer Hotline You may also call 211 if you’re in Alabama and that is the volunteer hotline. We’ve been asked by FEMA and Police and Nat’l Guard to PLEASE call and get sent to a volunteer coordinated site than just showing up. As you can imagine, there is a lot of gross destruction that volunteers do not need to see. So please get assigned a project first! If not in Alabama- call 1-888-421-1266.
  • FEMA Any questions or concerns regarding FEMA, how you can help, or any other questions concerning tornado disaster, call the Governors Hotline at 1-866-465-2241. FEMA: 1-800-621-FEMA RedCross (this number will get you in touch with your county redcross) 1-800-733-2767
  • Christian Service Mission & AMAZON.com The Christian Service Mission in Birmingham has been doing a tremendous job of selecting and distributing supplies to everyone affected by the tornadoes. They have a wish list set up on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/wishlist/1R41WY8NOJJ3A/ref=cm_wl_rlist_go You can scroll through their list of needs, buy something, and have it shipped directly to the Christian Service mission. Shipping is free! For those in other parts of the country who would like to help, this is a great way. You might consider looking through the list with their children and letting them pick out something to send to the children of Alabama.

 

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  • Nelle
    May 5, 2011 at 4:33 pm

    I just tweeted this link to your blog Darby. Such a good and helpful way for us far away from you to feel connected. Thank you!

  • Caitlin
    May 5, 2011 at 4:38 pm

    Thank you for spreading the word Darby!!

  • Kate
    May 5, 2011 at 4:49 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing these links with us! I’ll be tweeting and facebooking links so that if people want to help they can find it here.

  • jade
    May 5, 2011 at 4:50 pm

    Nice work Darby! My heart is broken too. Craft Hope will have something going very soon that I’ll send you. xo

  • Angela S
    May 5, 2011 at 6:08 pm

    Darby – Thanks so much for posting these! I am a teacher at an elementary school in metro Atlanta. We will be starting a book drive Monday for the schools in Hackleburg! I’ll let you know how it goes!

  • kristen
    May 5, 2011 at 6:21 pm

    Thank you so much for posting this Darby! So much to be done but so many ways we can help, too!

  • Nikki Burns
    May 5, 2011 at 8:02 pm

    I just wanted to jump in for Dothan locals….I teach at Landmark Elementary (now called Slingluff Elementary) and we are collecting school supplies for Hackleburg and Pleasant Grove schools. Since their schools were wiped out, they need the simple things like pencils, paper, sanitizer, paper towels, markers, and crayons. Please feel free to bring anything to Slingluff Elementary that you might have extra to share with these schools. Thank you! Mrs. Burns, First grade

  • Melanie
    May 5, 2011 at 8:25 pm

    Darby~ it is so thoughtful of you to spread the word on all of these great causes! I am in GA, but my hometown is in Decatur AL and I was so glad to see the Morgan County Junior League’s link….now I am ALL IN for making knapsaks for the kids!

  • Courtney
    May 6, 2011 at 5:47 am

    Darby – I’ve been reading your blog for a long time and knew you would do something like this. Thank you for such a comprehensive list. I’m putting a link to it on my blog so that hopefully more people can help. The area surrounding my hometown in Southern Illinois has been flooded recently, so I’ve been thinking a lot lately about all the folks who need natural disaster related help. Sending prayers, Courtney

  • Allison
    May 6, 2011 at 9:14 am

    Darby–I am a current student at The University of Alabama and have been involved over the past 8 days with UA Greek Relief. UA Greek Relief has been an operation coordinated by members of the Greek System at Alabama and has been taking donations of any kind and providing hot meals to families in Tuscaloosa and surrounding areas. At one point, we accounted for 1/3 of the hot meals provided in Tuscaloosa that day. Overall, we have plated and served over 40,000 meals and collected thousands of pounds of canned goods and non-perishable items. Combined with the efforts of Delta Kappa Epsilon’s national foundation, the UA Greek Relief team has set up a fund. Today (Friday May 6th) is the last day for physical donations and cooking meals, but from now on UA Greek Relief is accepting monetary donations on their website to go towards long-term relief efforts in Tuscaloosa. Please visit the link here if you would like to contribute: https://uagreekrelief.com/Donate.html

    Thank you!

    Allison

  • Amanda Wells
    May 6, 2011 at 9:33 am

    Those photos completely and utterly blow my mind.

  • Mary Ann Wilkerson
    May 6, 2011 at 10:37 am

    Darby,

    I am aunt to Ann Rhodes Barber and Laura Beth Rhodes Moore, both of whom I believe you knew at Auburn University. Their mom, Elizabeth Rhodes (my sister) introduced me to your blog, and I now read it regularly, and love it. Thank you for posting these links to which we can go and help the tornado victims in Alabama. I had so wondered how I could help in a direct manner, and now you have given us these ways. Thanks again.

  • Stacey
    May 6, 2011 at 12:36 pm

    I would like to add one more opportunity to your list… My sister-in-law has a sewing business and makes adorable college-themed pillows, and she is donating 100% of her profits of these to Help Tuscaloosa Schools. Please visit her blog here: https://tootledoodesigns.blogspot.com/2011/05/lets-raise-some-money.html

  • Caroline
    May 7, 2011 at 5:08 am

    Darby- One more opportunity in Birmingham…There are many of us who cannot wrap our own minds around the devestation of this catastrophic event yet we all want to help in some way. Though my children are pretty young, I also want to find ways for them to help. The 4K class at our preschool is having a lemonade stand to raise money. This will be at St. Luke’s Day School {3736 Montrose Road Birmingham, AL 35213-3800} on Thursday May 19th from 10:00 – 1:00. Last year my daughter’s class raised over $1300 for the tornado victims in Albertsville and flood victims in Nashville {https://ccscreativecreations.blogspot.com/2010/05/its-more-than.html}. Hopefully through opportunities such as this we are helping our children learn life lessons while also helping the community of our great state. Thank you for putting together such a comprehensive list. There are so many opportunities for all of us to help.

  • Meredith
    May 8, 2011 at 8:29 am

    Thanks so much for this list of organizations and the links. I just used it to make a donation.

  • Melanie
    May 16, 2011 at 10:27 am

    This is WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!! My heart is overwhelmed by all of the wonderful ways God is working through His people. And these precious friends, neighbors, strangers, all banding together to be His hands and feet — beautiful!

    Visiting from the the “Encouragement is Contagious” linky party at my blog, “Only A Breath”! I hope your week is a wonderful one!

    Blessings!
    Melanie