Here’s How You Can Donate To Help Midwest Tornado Victims

There just aren't enough words to describe the death and devastation that we've seen since that swarm of tornadoes tore through Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

What we do have is enough people around the Rockford area and the rest of the country who are ready to make a donation to help the people and communities that were hit so hard.

 Here's A Partial List Of Ways To Make A Safe Donation To Tornado Victims

What I mean by "safe donation" is that unfortunately, when disasters and tragedy strike, the people who put profit over all else come out and try to grab something for themselves by putting together a phony group or organization that they'll claim is helping people post-disaster. All these groups do is take money intended to help others and put it in their own pockets.

The following partial list has been vetted to keep the scammers out, and the money flowing to where it's most needed. There are lots of people and organizations that will be offering help, so I just wanted to get you started with a few :

• The American Red Cross says it is responding across multiple states affected by the string of tornadoes, and provides information of open shelters.

• Americares says it is sending an emergency response team and relief supplies to the communities ripped apart by the tornadoes. It has contacted more than 100 health facilities that it partners with in Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee to offer help. Many are clinics serving low-income or uninsured or underinsured families.
• CARE is working with a community-based partner in Louisville to get food, water and emergency cash vouchers to families.

• Feed the Children is working with its partners to get food, water and other essentials to the victims of the tornadoes.

• GlobalGiving Foundation is raising money to provide food and emergency medical supplies to people and animals, to support temporary shelter for families who were displaced and to assist front-line workers with meals and gas. Funds will be used for other needs as they arise.

• The Salvation Army is collecting donations for emergency services for the tornado victims and rescue workers, including food, drinks, shelter and emotional and spiritual support. One hundred percent of a donation is applied to the selected disaster relief operation.

• Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian organization headed by Franklin Graham, is responding to the deadly tornadoes and is seeking volunteers to help with debris cleanup, roof tarping and chainsaw work.

• Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund was established by Gov. Andy Beshear after the tornadoes ripped through the state. All donations are tax deductible.

• United Way says it is working with emergency management and affected communities to support families affected by the devastating tornadoes. One hundred percent of funds donated to United Way of Kentucky will go toward the recovery.

• World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization based in Washington State, operates several warehouses across the U.S. stocked with emergency supplies ready to be deployed storm-battered areas. The group has already shipped food, personal protective equipment, heaters, blankets, diapers and even toys to Kentucky. To support World Vision’s tornado relief efforts, donate here.

• The online crowdfunding platform GoFundMe.com has compiled a list of verified tornado outbreak fundraisers from across the six states affected by the storms.
• The Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund