In the aftermath of the tornadoes that hit Lee County, Alabama, on Mar. 3, 2019, causing at least 23 deaths, the DRI Foundation provided a donation to the Community Foundation of East Alabama.
CFEA makes strategic grants to assist nonprofit organizations in handling their programs and other special needs in the community. Responding to the disaster, it set up the Lee County Tornado Recovery Fund.
“We are so grateful for [the DRI Foundation’s] contribution,” said EACF’s Barbara Patton. “Through this contribution and others, we are working with our community partners to help to begin to rebuild the lives that were impacted by the tornadoes.”
At the first Recovery Fund community meeting Thursday, they learned learned that there are 275 houses completely wiped out and many more with damage. Two key stations have been set up for survivors to apply for assistance – one in Beauregard and one in Smiths Station.
“FEMA has been amazing and so has EMA,” Patton said. “They are shifting us to a long-term recovery model and that should unfold in the next 1-3 weeks. Then we can start issuing grants. Meanwhile, funds keep coming in and that is a blessing. Once case management kicks in, we can really begin to place strategic grants to those who need it most.”
The DRI Foundation is proud to support non-profit organizations in communities impacted by disasters to provide crucial assistance.