And the rebuilding continues.
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee announces 14 additional grants totaling more than $1.2 million — $1,274,091 —to area nonprofits and organizations helping those affected by the deadly and destructive tornadoes of March 3.
The Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund advisory committee approved several grants in recent weeks.
Access to the grant application remains open and continues to accept requests for recovery assistance (legal, mental health/counseling, permanent housing, rebuilding/construction, and case management). The grant application also continues to accept requests for relief needs (food, shelter and short-term housing, clothing, cleanup and debris removal, and financial assistance).
To date, 141 grants to 107 nonprofits have been deployed from the Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund, totaling more than $5.741 million — $5,741,382 as of Nov. 2. There is an additional $1.11 million — $1,111,759 — in pending grants to support the coordinated repair and rebuild effort, representing a partnership between Westminster Home Connection and 14 nonprofits and churches that have signed on to support tornado survivors with construction projects.
The Fund has raised more than $12.4 million — $12,406,510.58 — from more than 22,000 donors. Donors have reached out from all 50 states and 35 foreign countries ranging from Australia to the United Arab Emirates.
“We are so grateful and appreciative of those who have been willing to help and to give to the Emergency Response Fund, and we have ensured that each and every dollar has and will be used wisely and well,” said Ellen Lehman, CFMT president.
The latest three rounds of grants are:
Cumberland River Compact ($50,000) to support tree planting in public areas and to private residences in Putnam and Wilson counties that suffered tree loss following the March 2020 tornadoes.
Nashville Tree Conservation Corps ($25,000) to support tree planting in public areas and to private residences in East Nashville, Donelson, and Hermitage that suffered tree loss following the March 2020 tornadoes.
Nashville Tree Foundation ($25,000) to support tree planting in public areas and to private residences in North Nashville that suffered tree loss following the March 2020 tornado.
Oct. 21:
Broken Restored Redeemed Ministries ($100,000) to provide additional rental assistance, household supplies, and other direct financial assistance to tornado survivors in Davidson and Wilson counties.
Crosspoint Church Mt. Juliet ($75,000) to provide additional cleanup and debris removal of trees in Wilson County destroyed in the tornado.
Nashville General Hospital Foundation ($25,000) to provide additional support for Food Pharmacy totes being provided to March 2020 tornado survivors across Davidson County.
Project Connect Nashville ($15,000) to provide additional support for meal service and delivery, operating from the Historic First Community Church on Knowles Avenue for North Nashville residents impacted by the March 2020 tornado.
Rebuilding Nashville Together ($40,000 and $13,241) to: support construction oversight for a construction committee member involved in home repair/rebuild of tornado survivor homes; to provide direct expenses associated with the home repair/rebuild for tornado survivors in the 37206 zip code of East Nashville
Inspiritus (formerly Lutheran Social Services) ($814,850) to support the repair/rebuild efforts in Putnam County through July 31, 2021. This includes support for coordination of construction oversight, construction volunteer crews, and direct costs necessary to complete the repairs of at least 50 homes and the rebuilding of two homes of survivors identified through case management.
Sept. 19
Historic Buena Vista Community Association (HBVCA) ($25,000) to support immediate needs of the Historic Buena Vista Neighborhood Association residents impacted by the tornado. This North Nashville community, located near Jefferson Street and Rosa Parks Boulevard, experienced significant damage, with several homes completely destroyed.
Successful Survivors Community Development Organization ($30,000) to support construction oversight for a construction committee member involved in repair/rebuild of tornado survivor homes. Successful Survivors is the affordable housing outreach of the Greater Heights Missionary Baptist Church.
Tennessee Respite Coalition ($6,000) to provide vouchers to caregiver families impacted by the tornadoes, which would allow them to acquire respite services, including rest and self-care.
Providence United Methodist Church ($30,000) to support unmet needs of tornado survivors in Wilson County through referral from UMCOR case management.
Tornado Recovery Connection Call Line Continues
Anyone experiencing a current need as a result of the tornadoes can continue to call the Tornado Recovery Connection helpline at 615-270-9255. This call line is free of charge and is open 24/7, and messages are returned by case managers ASAP.
In partnership with the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County and Recover Wilson County, local agencies and community groups are coordinating efforts to address recovery needs and help our neighbors rebuild from the March tornadoes.
Tornado Recovery Connection provides callers throughout Middle Tennessee with resources for immediate relief and helps identify those with long-term needs.
Calls to the helpline above connect tornado survivors with services such as: counseling and mental health support; direct financial assistance; FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) mediation; food assistance; home furnishings; home repair and construction services; household goods; housing replacement; insurance mediation; legal assistance; mortgage assistance; primary healthcare services; rent assistance; short-term housing; short-term rental assistance; tree debris removal; and utility payment assistance.
Tornado Recovery Connection is administered by the Tennessee Conference of United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), which has been serving disasters since 1940. UMCOR brings their knowledge and experience to a community and helps set up local case managers — the people who provide care and counsel, and walk with tornado survivors through their recovery.
In Putnam County, Cookeville Regional Medical Center Foundation has collected contact information for about 400 tornado survivors. The Foundation allots all relief and recovery funds and have kept in touch with survivors, including a more recent survey about their still-outstanding needs. The organization works directly with nonprofits UMCOR and Inspiritus, with survivors who need long-term assistance with general needs referred to UMCOR, and those with repair/rebuild needs to Inspiritus.
About The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT) exists to promote and facilitate giving in the 40 counties of Middle Tennessee and beyond. It does this by accepting gifts of any size from anyone at any time and by empowering individuals, families, companies, nonprofits, and communities to respond to needs and opportunities that matter. CFMT works with people who have great hearts, whether or not they have great wealth, to craft solutions that reflect their intentions and goals. The organization has distributed more than $1 billion in grants since its inception in 1991. For more information, call 615-321-4939 or visit www.cfmt.org.