CFInfo: Celebrating Regional Philanthropy

Greetings!

On June 1, tornados impacted 19 communities in western and central Massachusetts, leaving three dead, hundreds injured, and many homes and buildings destroyed. Among those impacted are local nonprofits providing critical services in affected neighborhoods. All of us at the Community Foundation have been shocked and saddened by the devastation and loss of life, but equally impressed and heartened by the way our community has come together at this time of crisis.

If you are looking for immediate assistance, please call 211 or visit mass211.org, a United Way referral service which can put you in touch with local resources. If you are looking for ways to help others, there are a numbers of ways you can contribute.

In every disaster, there is a need for an immediate and a longer-term response. The Community Foundation has established the Tornado Relief Fund for Western Mass to aid non-profits that are attempting to meet the current and longer term needs of those impacted by the tornado. You may contribute to the fund now through our online form or you can mail a check to:

Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
1500 Main Street
P.O. Box 15769
Springfield, MA 01115

Please specify tornado relief in the box provided at the bottom of the form or the memo line of your check.

Right now, we are aware of several local nonprofits collecting contributions for immediate emergency relief:

Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross

United Way Pioneer Valley

The Salvation Army or through the Salvation Army's Text to Give number. A $10 minimum donation can be made by texting the word TSMA10 to 85944

Food Bank of Western Massachusetts

Our team is staying informed and connected with all the responders and resources in our community to gain a better understanding of all the complex needs in this situation. As we learn more, we will update our website.

Like all community foundations across the country, we connect donors and critical needs during a time of crisis - and it is a task we take seriously. Our national network of community foundations has shared with us their experiences with disaster relief and philanthropic responses. We will be identifying the steps to be taken and will help connect donors to those specialized activities.

Please contact our Philanthropic Services staff with any additional questions on how to support disaster relief.

Thank you for your interest in the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. If you would like to learn more please join our mailing list.   

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