Nashville Tornado Recovery Efforts: Where To Donate, How To Help, Places To Volunteer

Earlier this week, Nashville and Cookeville were devastated by a horrific tornado. 24 lives were lost and dozens more are still missing. In the midst of such a tragedy, the Nashville community is rallying around those in need. From volunteer opportunities to donations and Go Fund Me’s. Because there are so many different ways to give back that have been posted across different platforms, I wanted to compile the most comprehensive list of all the ways you can support Nashville & Cookeville in this time of need. I know there is a lot of media coverage on Nashville, but Cookeville is still dealing with massive devastation as well with most of the deaths taking place there and dozens are still missing.

I will continue to update this list as opportunities grow.

Community Support FB Pages:

• Cookeville Strong

Donate Meals To Those In Need

• Eat Well Nashville
  • The meal prep company is allowing you to purchase meals to donate to those in need. Click the link above to purchase meals. At a discounted rate you can buy 5, 10, 15 to help feed those directly affected by the tornado.

Shelters:

• Centennial Sportsplex [only option where pets are allowed] 
  • 222 25th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37203
• East Magnet High School
  • 110 Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
• Hadley Park Community Center
  • 1037 28th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208
• Holy Rosary Catholic Church 
  • 190 Graylynn Drive, Donelson, TN 37214
• Cookeville Community Center
  • 240 Carlen Dr., Cookeville, TN 
• Putnam County YMCA
  • 235 Raider Dr., Cookeville, TN 
• Airbnb Free Emergency Housing [Through March 24, 2020]

Mortgage/Rent Assistance

• Any resident whose property was affected by the tornado in Middle Tennessee may apply for mortgage/rent assistance from the National Association of REALTORS^® via the REALTORS^® Relief Foundation (RRF). It is not necessary to be a REALTOR^® to apply. The RRF will provide up to $1,000 to each qualified applicant while funds remain available. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2020, but do not delay.
• LINK TO APPLY , once you apply, email it to Tennessee REALTORS^® at rrf@tnrealtors.com.

Go Fund Me Opportunities

• There are dozens of GoFundMe’s supporting victims of the tornado. Check here to see all of the opportunities to donate.

Pet Rescue Opportunities

Both the Nashville Humane Society & Metro Animal Control Center are taking donations to help those animals lost or displaced by the storm. Below are the follow items they are seeking: 

• Unopened bags of dry cat & dog food 
• Canned food 
• Collars & leashes 
• Crates 
• Blankets 

*Apply to foster a pet to help those families displaced while they sort things out via Agape Animal Rescue.

Donation Opportunities

• Community Resource Center 
  • Supplies Needed: 
    • Personal Hygiene (including soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant
    • Bleach 
    • Trash bags
    • Gloves 
    • Box Cutters
    • Cleaning supplies
    • Diapers
• The Community Foundation 

Cookeville Monetary Donations Information:

Donations Through Purchases

• Each of the items listed below are donating 100% of their profits to tornado relief efforts.
  • NashvilleTN: I Believe In Nashville Shirts 
  • Living With Landyn: Nashville Strong T-Shirt
  • Apple & Oak: Nashville Strong Wine Glasses
  • Good To Be: Good To Be Nashville T-Shirt
  • Cookeville Strong T-Shirt

Volunteer Opportunities

• Hands On Nashville
• Nashville Food Project
• Crosspoint Church

Community Lost & Found 

If you are assisting with clean-up and find personal belongings among the debris, you can turn it into the Community Lost & Found.

• Where: Center 615 Rec Hall in East Nashville
• 615 Main St, Nashville, TN
• Thurs & Friday 9am-4pm

More Info on Tornado Relief Efforts:

*Info from WKRN.com

Community-wide

Hands On Nashville: Register online to be a volunteer. Cleanup events are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, March 7 and 8, in two time blocks each day: from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. Stay up-to-date with volunteer opportunities here.

Community Resource Center:

• Donate items at 218 Omohundro Place.
• Specific needs:
  • flashlights
  • batteries
  • baby food and formula
  • new baby bottles
  • box cutters
  • over-the-counter meds
  • new socks
  • underwear
  • trash cans

Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee:

• Donate here

Zeal Church:

• Located at 5807 Charlotte Pike
• Organizing volunteer teams Friday and Saturday.
• Check the church’s Facebook page for times and information.

Cumberland River Compact:

• Email Gray Perry at gray.perry@cumberlandrivercompact.org about volunteer opportunities 

Samaritan’s Purse

• The North Carolina group is heading to town this weekend. Sign up to help on their site.

North Nashville/Germantown

Gideon’s Army

• Gideon’s Army is coordinating numerous volunteer opportunities jumping off at various locations.
• Check the list.
• You can also donate to Gideon’s Army.

Lee Chapel AME Church:

• Location: 1200 D.B. Todd Blvd.
• Serving as a gathering point for volunteers, but is also taking donations.
• Items of particular needs are:
  • tarps
  • plywood 2-by-4s
  • nails
  • screws
  • water
  • nonperishable food items
  • candles
  • flashlights and lanterns
  • matches and lighters
  • batteries of all sizes.

Nashville Rescue Mission

The mission’s location on Rosa Parks Avenue is without power. Until power is restored, the following items are needed:

• individually wrapped sandwiches
• sandwich-making supplies
• individually packaged fruit cups
• chips and drinks
• batteries
• flashlights
• bath towels
• battery-operated fans

McGruder Family Resource Center:

• Location: 2013 25th Ave. N.
• Needs:
  • diapers
  • baby food
  • tarps
  • trash bags
  • flashlights
  • batteries
  • Help with a generator would also be appreciated.

Cheatham Place and Andrew Jackson Courts: MDHA officials are taking donations of supplies and gift cards, along with coordinating volunteers at the community centers at 1564 Ninth Avenue North and 1457 Jackson Street.

Wilson County

Mt. Juliet Police are asking people to register to volunteer online as they continue to assess damage. The Lebanon Police Department is also coordinating cleanup efforts and will be bussing volunteers into affected areas. Check the City of Lebanon’s Facebook page for more information.

Putnam County

In hard-hit Putnam County, search-and-rescue efforts are ongoing. The county is asking volunteers to email helpnow@putnamcounty.gov; officials will reach out once needs have been assessed.

Putnam County Tornado Relief Efforts:

*From WBIR.com

The Cookeville Putnam County Tornado Relief Fund has been set up for victims of the Putnam County tornado. This is the only official designated account with 100 percent of the donations going directly to the impacted victims. There are three ways to donate money:

•    Any Bank of Putnam County location

•    Venmo @CookevillePutnamCountyTornado

•    PayPal@CookevillePutnamCountyTornadoReliefFund

Right now, volunteers are being coordinated by the Putnam County Emergency Management Agency. Water and non-perishable foods are being collected at the Cookeville Community Center.