Like you we at iAlert.com want to do what we can to help the Oklahoma Tornado Victims recover from the May 20, 2013 devastating EF5 tornado. When donating however please consider what and who you donate to. Known, reputable, local organizations, on the ground at these events know what is needed to help victims and are best positioned to provide this help. Since most of us who cannot physically be there to volunteer our best support to these victims is financial donations to trusted charitable organizations. Do not provide financial donations to just anyone or any unknown organization. As tragic as it is there some out there who will try and profit from your generosity and on the backs of these victims so please do your research and donate to reputable and safe organizations best positioned to directly help those in need.
Here is donation information and references to get you started…..
- http://www.redcross.org/charitable-donations – Direct link to red cross national or local donations
- http://www.oklahoma.gov – State Government of Oklahoma official website
- http://newsok.com/how-to-help-several-nonprofits-are-collecting-donations/article/3828009 (Oklahoma.gov affiliate)
The State Government of Oklahoma’s newsok.com affiliate has done an excellent job laying out how you can help. Please reference this site (http://newsok.com/how-to-help-several-nonprofits-are-collecting-donations/article/3828009) for the latest updated, however a snip has been provided below…..
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DONATION DROPOFFS
Many organizations are collecting supplies to aid with relief and recovery from the tornado, and they are providing locations for people to drop off their items. Top needs are bottled water, Gatorade-type sports drinks, work gloves, individually wrapped snacks, but each group lists slightly different things.
Here are the sites, along with, drop off times and locations:
Feed the Children has established five locations in Oklahoma City to accept donations that will aid victims of the Moore tornadoes.
Feed The Children McCormick Distribution Center, 29 N McCormick; First Baptist Church, 1201 N Robinson; KOCO-TV, 1300 E Britton Rd.; Faith Tabernacle Church, Interstate 40 and Portland; and TLC Garden Center, 105 W Memorial Rd., Continental Resources, 20 N Broadway; Bob Moore Parking Lot, 412 W Reno.
Items that will be accepted at these locations are diapers, canned goods, non-perishable food and snack items, water and sports drinks. Cash donations are also welcome.
Feed The Children is coordinating with other organizations and with authorities at the Emergency Operations Center to deliver disaster supplies as requests for aid are received. Water and lasagna has already been delivered to the American Red Cross and Salvation Army to help with hydration and meal preparation for first responders.
Cash donations to help with relief efforts can also be made by phone at (800) 627-4556, online at www.feedthechildren.org/disaster, or by texting “DISASTER” to 80888.
Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52, is serving as a dropoff point for relief donations, including bottled water, Gatorade-type sports drinks, diapers, baby wipes, baby formula and canned foods at the museum box office during operating hours. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.
In addition, residents of Shawnee and Moore who were displaced by the tornadoes will be given free museum admission through Friday. For more information, call 602-6664 or www.sciencemuseumok.org.
The Tuttle FFA is having a donation drive from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday in the Old Williams Parking Lot on Main Street. People are asked to bring bottled water, Gatorade, diapers, work gloves, baby wipes, individually wrapped snacks, baby formula, hand towels and nonperishable items.
Crossings Community Church, 2208 W Hefner, is now a donation site for bottled water and energy/sports drinks; nonperishable items, including protein and granola bars, diapers and work gloves. Drop off items between 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. weekdays. Also, financial donations can be made online at crossingsokc.org/giving. Sign in or create an account, select “missions” and then select “disaster relief fund” to send your donation directly to tornado relief.
Oklahoma State University’s Parking and Transit Services will be accepting donations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday in the parking lot at the intersection of Hall of Fame and Washington in Stillwater. Water, non-perishable food items, diapers, toiletries, snack foods, work gloves, Gatorade, sunscreen, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, ibuprofen, shovels, rakes and buckets are needed. No clothing. All items will be donated to the American Red Cross. For more information, call (405) 744-6260.
Lakehoma Church of Christ, 2124 W State Highway 152 in Mustang, will be accepting donations of rescue supplies and personal items from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday. The donations collected will be donated to the American Red Cross. Requested items include water, Gatorade, blankets, pillows, shovels, gloves, non-perishable food items, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shaving cream, diapers, shampoo, conditioner, baby food and body wash. People can also bring donations after 7 p.m. Wednesday. Donations will go to the Red Cross. For more information, call 376-2883.
The Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre will solicit donations for disaster relief during its run of “Greater Tuna,” scheduled Friday through June 16 at the Civic Center Music Hall’s Freede Little Theatre, 201 N Walker. For more information, call 848-3761.COLLECTING TOYS
Toy Base 10, 4028 NW 10, and Vintage Stock, 7407 N May, are collecting toys for those displaced by the Moore tornado. Toy Base 10 is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Vintage Stock is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 7 p.m. Sundays.
Quail Springs Baptist Church, 14613 N May, is requesting donations of water, Gatorade, wipes, individually wrapped snacks, hand sanitizer, diapers, baby formula, hand towels, work gloves and sunscreen. Items can be dropped off on the north side of the building. Checks can be made payable to QSBC Storm Relief. For more information, call 755-9240.OKLAHOMA CITY BALLET
The Oklahoma City Ballet, 7421 N Classen, is accepting donations of baby wipes, paper towels, gallons of water, individually wrapped snack and food items and work gloves. Dropoff hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Donations will also be accepted from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Oklahoma City University, 2501 N Blackwelder. For more information, call 848-8637.
Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity will have a trailer at Lowes, 2555 Hemphill Dr., in Norman, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday to take in donations of supplies for the tornado victims. They are asking for supplies that include trailer water, food, formula, hygiene items, etc. For more information please contact Linda at Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity at 360-7868.
The TLC Garden Center at 13700 N Santa Fe is collecting emergency relief supplies from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Bottled water, sports drinks, wipes, individually wrapped snacks, diapers, baby formula, hand towels, work gloves, rakes and shovels are requested. For more information, call 830-5964
The City of Yukon is accepting donations to help Moore tornado victims at the Yukon Police Department, 100 S Ranchwood Blvd. Bottled water, Gatorade, baby wipes, diapers, baby formula, hand towels, individually wrapped snacks, work gloves, shovels and dog food can be dropped off 24 hours a day through May 31. Checks will also be accepted. For more information, call 354-1711 or go to www.cityofyukonok.gov.
Rose State College’s Office of Student Activities is accepting donations of bottled water, canned goods, diapers, sports drinks and nonperishable food items at 6420 SE 15 in Midwest City. Monetary donations will be forwarded to the Oklahoma Red Cross. For more information, call 733-7458.
The Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Affiliated Companies’ main office at 2501 N Stiles, is accepting donations for those affected by the recent tornado. Critical items needed are bottled water, sports drinks, paper towels, disinfectant wipes, individually wrapped snack food, diapers, baby formula and work gloves. A trailer on the office’s west side will accept donations for as long as needed. For more information, call 523-2347.
Plaza Mayor at the Crossroads, 7000 Crossroads Blvd., has opened its doors to organizations working to provide supplies to those displaced by the Moore tornado. In addition to being a command post for the Red Cross, and a delivery, sorting and distribution point for the Salvation Army, Plaza Mayor is accepting donations at the mall’s southwest corner near the old J.C. Penney loading dock. For more information, call 631-4422.
The Kerr Foundation and Junior League of Oklahoma City are collecting professional clothing for women affected by the tornadoes. The group will accept blouses, dresses, poecketbooks and other wardrobe items for women preparing to return to work after the weather disaster may have demolished their wardrobes. The group will pick up items or you can drop them off at 12501 N May. 209-4777
St. Mary’s Episcopal School, will serve as a dropoff location for donations to The Salvation Army 505 E Covell Rd, Edmond, 341-9541
Graceway Baptist Church will serve as a dropoff location for donations of bottled water, ready-to-eat food items, ibuprofen, band aids, gloves, batteries and hand sanitizer. 1100 SW 104. www.gracewayokc.org
DeVry University is serving as donation dropoff location at 4013 Northwest Expressway, Suite 100 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Thursday. All donations will go to the American Red Cross. The site will accept bottled or filtered water containers, Gatorade, non-perishable food, pre-packed snacks, diapers, formula, wipes, hand sanitizers, gloves, trash bags, rakes, shovels, flashlights, batteries, sunscreen. No clothes, bedding or housing items accepted.
Infant Crisis Services is needing basic necessities for families with babies and toddlers affected by the tornadoes.
The agency is requesting items from its disaster relief wish list, which includes: Good Start Gentle formula, Good Start Soy formula, diapers (sizes 1-6), wipes, sippy cups, bottles, baby wash and blankets or quilts. All in-kind donations received in the coming weeks will be used to give direct and immediate support to babies and toddlers affected by the May 20 tornado.
Those interested in participating in the relief efforts should drop off items from our wish list at the following locations:
Infant Crisis Services, 4224 N Lincoln Blvd., Kelly-Moore Paint Company, 108 24th Ave. SW, Norman; Platt College, 2727 W Memorial Rd.; all Oklahoma City metro Sprint locations;
CARNEY — Environmental Management Inc. in Carney has set up a donation dropoff at its facility at 5200 NE Highway 33 for items needed in Carney, where 37 homes were demolished and about 60 others are damaged.
Current needs are: leather work gloves, shovels, rakes, Gatorade and contractor trash bags. They do not need water or clothes.
Cherokee Hills Christian Church, 6228 NW 39th in Bethany, has been turned into a donation receiving center for work gloves, bottled water and Gatorade. Donations are also being accepted there. Make checks to CHCC and put “tornado relief” in the memo.
Oklahoma City University has organized several relief efforts, including some to benefit about 20 members of the OCU community affected by the storms. Ongoing efforts and ways to help are listed at www.okcu.edu/relief. Items to aid victims can be dropped off at OCU’s Kramer School of Nursing East in the student lounge located at NW 27 and Blackwelder Avenue between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. weekdays. Donations needed as part of this student-led effort include non-perishable food, bottled water, sunscreen, work gloves, dust masks and flashlights. A full list can be found on the relief website. OCU’s Kappa Sigma fraternity also is accepting donations at their house located at 2412 N Virginia. Donations will be delivered to the Oklahoma Red Cross.
CASH DONATIONS REQUESTED
The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, in partnership with Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, is asking that the public support all rescue, recovery and disaster relief efforts with donations of cash to your favorite responding charity.
Financial donations will allow disaster relief agencies to purchase whatever items are deemed necessary without resulting in the additional burden of securing warehouse space and volunteers to work the donated product.
“The Regional Food Bank is coordinating efforts with other disaster relief agencies in our state to provide food and water for those in need,” Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Regional Food Bank. “What we and other disaster relief agencies will need most from the public is financial donations.”
To make a tax deductible donation to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, go to www.regionalfoodbank.org or call 604-7111or text FOOD to 32333 to give $10 to relief efforts.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is working through local United Methodist churches and trained disaster response workers to provide immediate relief, assistance with cleanup and rebuilding, pastoral counseling and support for children and youth who have been through trauma.
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