Donate to relief funds, supplies and blood drives: How to help Kentucky tornado victims
Kentuckians are generous in a crisis, and the response to devastating tornadoes that touched down Dec. 10 and 11 has been no different.
Truckloads of water, clothing and food have made their way to Graves, Hopkins and other counties affected by the storms.
Kentucky State Police trooper Sarah Burgess said Mayfield, one of the hardest hit areas, has received so many items, its storage facilities are full.
Burgess and others say the best way people can support tornado survivors now is to donate money to the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund or to donate supplies a few weeks or months down the road.
"We're afraid help's not going to be there because it's all coming now," Burgess said.
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Mayfield, specifically, is still accepting generators, extension cords and new, unused gas and diesel containers, Burgess said.
For more information on ways to help, view the list below.
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Know something that should be included? Contact reporter Bailey Loosemore at bloosemore@courier-journal.com.
Donate relief funds
Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund
Gov. Andy Beshear has established a fund to assist tornado victims and begin rebuilding. Donate at secure.kentucky.gov/formservices/Finance/WKYRelief or by sending a check to Public Protection Cabinet, 500 Mero St., 218 NC, Frankfort, KY 40601.
In addition, AT&T's text-to-donate campaign allows anyone to text "KENTUCKY" to 20222 in order to donate $10 to the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund.
American Red Cross
Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or text REDCROSS to 90999.
Aspire Appalachia
Send donations to paypal@aspireappalachia.org or PO Box 1255, Jackson, KY 41339.
Bedded Bliss
Bedded Bliss, a fine linens and bedding boutique in St. Matthews, will donate 100% of proceeds from sales of gift wrapping that customers may need as the holidays approach to the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund.
If customers pay by check, then they are asked to make it out to the relief fund. Bedded Bliss is located at 3936 Chenoweth Square.
CARE
The nonprofit based in Atlanta is partnering with Louisville's Change Today, Change Tomorrow to distribute food, water and cash vouchers to affected families. Donate to the tornado relief fund here.
Cayce Baptist Church
Monetary donations can be sent to the Cayce Baptist Church Tornado Relief Fund at 41 Holly Circle, Fulton, KY 42041. Funds will be distributed to affected individuals and families.
Clayton & Crume
The leather goods company, which began a decade ago in a Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, is accepting donations via its website to support people and organizations in Bowling Green that need assistance.
Any remaining donations will go to the American Red Cross, the company said, adding it is also collecting items at its Louisville location in NuLu. Visit its Facebook page to learn more.
Community Ventures
The nonprofit based in Lexington has launched a donation fund at cvky.networkforgood.com/projects/149368-donate-to-kentucky-storm-relief.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Donate to tornado relief at elca.org.
Feeding America
The national nonprofit is raising funds to help food banks in areas affected by the tornadoes. Donate online at feedingamerica.org/disaster.
Global Empowerment Mission
The disaster relief nonprofit based in Miami is sending trucks of supplies to western Kentucky, in partnership with Racing Louisville and Louisville City Football Club. Donate funds at globalempowermentmission.org/mission/kentucky-tornadoes/.
Global Giving
The D.C.-based nonprofit has established a Midwest US Tornado Relief Fund at globalgiving.org/projects/midwest-tornado-relief-fund/.
Kentucky Counseling Center
The organization is collecting donations that counselors and social workers in Graves County will distribute to affected families. Donate at kentuckycounselingcenter.com/mayfield-fund/.
Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund
The University of Kentucky College of Medicine has established a GoFundMe page collecting donations at gofundme.com/f/ukcom-student-effort-for-tornado-relief-in-ky.
Kentucky Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters
Visit kentuckyvoad.org/.
Mayfield Graves County Tornado Relief
Mayfield-Graves County United Way has set up a GoFundMe to collect donations at gofundme.com/f/mayfield-graves-county-tornado-relief. Cash donations can be sent to P.O. Box 9, Fancy Farm, KY 42039.
Find other verified fundraisers at gofundme.com/c/act/tornado-outbreak-fundraisers.
See the damage: Mayfield drone footage reveals tornado damage
Marshall County Fund
The Marshall County Nonprofit Foundation has established a Venmo account to take funds at @MCNPF.
Mercy Chefs
The nonprofit that serves meals following natural disasters has set up at His House Ministries, 1250 KY-303, Mayfield, Kentucky, and will distribute food over the next few days. Donate funds at https://mercychefs.com/donation.
Relevant Church
The church in Mayfield, Kentucky, is taking donations for a tornado relief fund at wearerelevant.churchcenter.com/giving/to/mayfield-tornado-relief.
Rise and Shine
The mutual aid group in Bowling Green is taking donations through Venmo at @riseandshinebgky.
Salvation Army
Visit helpsalvationarmy.org and donate to the Salvation Army Western KY Disaster Relief Fundraiser on Facebook.
Samaritan's Purse
The nonprofit has deployed team members and resources to western Kentucky. Donate to the U.S. Disaster Relief fund at samaritanspurse.org/donation-items/us-disaster-relief-donation/.
Save the Children
The Connecticut-based organization is providing emergency supplies to families in Mayfield and donations to the Children's Emergency Fund, which supports kids in Kentucky and other states impacted by disasters, can be made here.
SOS
The Louisville-based organization that collects and redistributes surplus medical supplies is sending mobility items, including wheelchairs and walkers, along with first aid equipment to western Kentucky. SOS is taking monetary donations at donate.chip-in.us/?nonprofitId=132216.
More: Kentucky First Lady Britainy Beshear organizing toy drive for tornado victims
Texas Roadhouse's Dine to Donate event
For one day on Dec. 21, all profits made at Texas Roadhouse's Kentucky locations will go to the state's Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund.
The chain restaurant has locations in Ashland, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Florence, Fort Wright, Georgetown, Lexington, London, Louisville, Owensboro, Paducah, Pikeville, Richmond, Shively and Somerset.
For more information on locations, visit https://www.texasroadhouse.com/location.
United Way of Kentucky
The agency has set up a donation site specifically for tornado victims. Visit uwky.org/tornado.
Western KY Tornado Victims
Bremen resident Courtney Cozee has established a GoFundMe at gofundme.com/f/western-ky-tornado-vitamins.
Western Kentucky Red Cross Disaster Relief Fundraiser
Find the online fundraiser on Facebook.
Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities and Kentucky Center for Assisted Living
The Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities and Kentucky Center for Assisted Living set up an "LTC Tornado Relief Fund" via Paypal, with donations going directly to Kentucky's long-term care staff that have been affected by the storms and tornadoes.
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Donation's to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s disaster relief fund can be made at pma.pcusa.org/donate/make-a-gift/gift-info/OG999999/ or by calling (800) 872-3283.
Donate supplies
Green River Distillery
Owensboro residents who want to donate supplies can take them to Green River Distillery, 10 Distillery Road, beginning at 10 a.m. Monday. Most needed items include water, baby formula, diapers, sanitizing wipes, sanitizer, gloves and trash bags.
Jefferson County Public Schools
The largest school district in the state is holding a “Stuff the Bus” event to collect donations for western Kentucky residents. Drop off donations in front of the VanHoose Education Building, 3332 Newburg Road, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day this week.
Lyon County Courthouse
People with supplies to donate in Lyon County can drop them off at the courthouse, 500 W. Dale Ave., Eddyville. Officials are requesting trash bags, coffee, disinfectant wipes, work gloves, safety glasses and gift cards.
Marshall County Tornado Disaster Relief
Call 270-703-2706 or 270-252-6530 to donate food, water, toiletries, cleaning supplies and other items.
Mayfield/Graves County Donations
Fill out an online form, call 270-883-0072 or email MayfieldDonations@gmail.com.
The LEE Initiative
The LEE Initiative has pledged and spent $15,000 on food to be served early this week from local food trucks and said planning is underway for "relief and holiday meals / toys as all of the people who lost homes will be in shelters through the holidays."
Visit leeinitiative.kindful.com to donate.
Feeders Pet Supply
Feeders Pet Supply is partnering with the Humane Society of Marshall County to help the victims of Kentucky’s tornadoes.
Customers can donate new or gently used pet food or supplies in store, or they can donate financially online and in store until Thursday.
Donate gifts
Western Kentucky Toy Drive
Kentucky First Lady Britainy Beshear organized the drive to collect items for children affected by the storms. State officials are requesting toys, games, books and technology that are new, unwrapped and in their original packaging; and $25 Mastercard and Visa gift cards. Items can be dropped off through Saturday, December 18, at various locations in Kentucky.
Volunteer
Bremen Fire Department
People interested in volunteering in Muhlenberg County can go to the Bremen Fire Department at 51 College St.
Kentucky Tornado Relief Effort
An initiative from Senate candidate Charles Booker is seeking people to make wellness calls, set up a water distribution tent, provide financial support and donate food and supplies. Visit charlesbooker.org/relief/.
Mayfield/Graves County
Fill out an online form, call 270-216-0903 or email MayfieldVolunteers@gmail.com.
Red Cross
The national nonprofit is organizing volunteers in Bowling Green. Call 270-467-7500 if interested in joining.
Eight Days of Hope
The Mississippi-based nonprofit is organizing volunteers and collecting donations at its website, eightdaysofhope.com.
Blood drives
Blood Assurance
The group collects blood donations across the South and has planned several donations sites in Bowling Green. Schedule an appointment at bloodassurance.org/schedule.
Kentucky Blood Center
The blood bank located in Lexington allows people to schedule donations at kybloodcenter.org/.
Red Cross Blood
Find nearby locations to donate at redcrossblood.org/.
Telethons/auctions
Kentucky Distillers' Association
The association is partnering with Bourbon Crusaders and bourbon curator Fred Minnick on two auctions benefiting the Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund.
An online auction will take place from 5 p.m. Dec. 16 through 10 p.m. Dec. 21, while a livestreamed auction will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 21. For more information, visit kybourbonbenefit.com.
Reach reporter Bailey Loosemore at bloosemore@courier-journal.com or 502-582-4646.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky tornado donations: How to help, provide support to victims
