Communities are scrambling to assess the damage after one of the worst tornadoes in state history swept through western Kentucky on December 11.
The state has announced that 76 Kentuckians have been confirmed dead. Tthousands of Kentuckians remain without electricity and many are homeless.
As search and rescue efforts continue in affected counties, here is how you can help:
Categories: Donate to Disaster Relief Funds, Donate Blood, Donate Supplies, Donate Toys, Volunteer, Support Pets, Community Helplines, Report price increases
Donate to Disaster Relief Fund
Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund
Kentucky Red Cross:
- Make a donation in line here
- Text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $ 10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief.
- To donate by phone by credit card or to ask questions about donating money to the Red Cross, please call 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669)
Verified GoFundMe pages created by community members and organizations in need
His Home ministries (Mayfield, Ky)
Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief
Shop in local Kentucky – buy a “Kentucky Strong” t-shirt and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund
Salvation Army Disaster Relief
Church concerned (Mayfield, KY)
Rise and Shine (Bowling Green, KY)
SOS, a Louisville-based global health organization
Global Giving Midwest US Tornado Relief Fund
Presbyterian disaster assistance
Samaritan’s purse international relief
Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort
Water with Blessings – Text WATER4SURVIVORS to 41444
Kentucky Chamber Foundation & Kentucky Sports Radio Tornado Relief Fund
Kentucky Association of Healthcare Facilities (fundraising for long-term care staff who have been affected by the storm)
Donate blood
Kentucky Red Cross: Find your local blood bank here
Kentucky Blood Center: Find a reader here
Blood insurance: Schedule and meet here
Donate clothes, blankets, food, water and other supplies
* Suggested donations include gasoline, generators, storage bins / bins, heaters, eyelash lights, headlamps, batteries, propane tanks, utility gloves, phone chargers, canisters gasoline, socks, underwear, blankets, coats, warm clothes, shoes, toiletries, paper towels, plastic utensils, paper plates, feminine hygiene products, infant formula , diapers, wipes, water, snacks, non-perishable foods.
Salvation Army Kentucky / Tennessee Division
Northside Baptist Church, 611 W Lockridge St, Mayfield, KY
Fairview Baptist Church, 701 West Water Street, Mayfield, KY
Mayfield / Graves County Fairgrounds, 1004 KY 121, Mayfield, KY 42066
Church of the city of Redemption, 104 Railroad Ave., Dawson Springs KY, 270-425-4310
Dawson Spring High School, 317 Eli St, Dawson Springs, KY 42408
Mount Zion Baptist Church, 175 Graham Dr., Bowling Green, Kentucky
Upper level church, 1405 Veterans Memorial ln., Bowling Green, KY
Johnson Bar, 133 S. 3rd St. Paducah, KY. 42001
First Baptist Church, 2890 Broadway St, Paducah, KY, 270-442-2728
Dry Ground Brewing Company, 3121 Broadway St, Paducah, KY 42001
Paducah Beer Werks, 301 N 4th St, Paducah, KY 42001
Lone Oak Baptist Church, 3601 Lone Oak Rd, Paducah, KY 42003
Community kitchen, 1237 Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Paducah, KY
Barrel & Bond, 100 Broadway Paducah, KY 42001
Stepstone Family and Youth Services, 78 Caky Drive, Benton, KY, 270-527-8388
Central primary school, 115 Jim Goheen Road Benton, KY 42025 (accepts donations weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Jefferson County Public Schools, VanHoose Education Center, 3332 Newburg Road, Louisville, KY 40218 (acceptance of donations 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until Friday)
Against the grain smokehouse, 401 E. Main St. & Against the Grain Public House, 1576 Bardstown Rd., Louisville, KY
Veterans Club Inc., 9419 Seatonville rd. at Fern Creek Christian Church, Louisville, KY 40291
Oven Pegs Smokehouse and Bar, 1053 Goss Ave, Louisville, KY 40217
Hampton Inn – Louisville Airport, 800 Phillips Ln. (delivering supplies to Graves County Fairgrounds)
Independence Bank, 3901 Shelbyville Rd., Louisville, KY and 1900 Colonel Sanders Ln., Louisville, KY
Roebling Point Books, 601 Overton Street, Newport, KY 41071
Newport Fire Department, 998 Monmouth St, Newport, KY 41071
Walnut Grove Baptist Church, 2941 Highland Lick Rd, Russellville, Kentucky
Akridge Farm Supply, 724 Fairview Ave, Eddyville, KY 42038, 270-388-2910 – Specific search for tarpaulins and gasoline cans
Cave City Community Center (Seniors Center), 105 Duke St, Cave City, KY 42127
Jamestown City Park Batting Cages, 123 Park Ave, Jamestown, KY 42629 (drop off 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday through Thursday)
Russell Springs Town Hall, 487 Main Street, Russell Springs, KY 42642 (drop off 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday)
Saint-Jérôme Catholic Church, 20 KY-339, Fantasy Farm, KY 42039
Walk on the water at Pritchard Community Center, 404 S Mulberry St, Elizabethtown, KY 42701 (needs cases of bottled water)
Felix Martin Hall, 501 W. Everly Brothers Blvd., Greenville, KY. 42345
Kentucky Education Development Corporation, Ashland Office (904 Rose Road) and Lexington Office (118 James Court Ste 60)
Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, 208 Main Street South, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342
Georgetown Fire Department, 101 Jacobs Drive, Georgetown, KY (accepting donations all week)
Clarksville Town Hall, 2000 Broadway Street, Clarksville, IN, (acceptance of donations Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm)
Hope 2 All Food Pantry, 307 West Mose Rager Blvd. Drakesboro, KY 42337
Henderson County Schools / Henderson Police Department, 735 N. Elm St., Henderson, KY (will fill a bus to deliver to Dawson Springs, may drop off 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
Oh sew the sweet shop, 210 East Arch Street, Madisonville, Ky.
Donate items for children / youth
Highland Cleaners Coats and Book Drive, 2457 Bardstown Rd., Louisville, KY or 4007 Brownsboro Rd., Louisville, KY (in-person donations accepted until January 7)
Volunteer
*** Tip: Please avoid hampering search and rescue efforts by calling / registering in advance ***
Kentucky Emergency Management – Complete Volunteer / Donation Link Here
Kentucky State Parks – Email [email protected] to volunteer to help displaced families
Mayfield Independent School District – Need translators, mainly for Spanish speaking families, email [email protected] or call 270-804-1381
Catalyst Church, 114 Kings Dr., Mayfield, KY, (270) 356-1191
South Warren High School, 8140 Nashville Road, Bowling Green, 270-467-7500
Bremen Volunteer Fire Department, 51 College Street, Bremen, KY 42325, 270-525-6002
Lone Oak Baptist Church, 3601 Lone Oak Rd, Paducah, KY 42003
Bowling Green Community Action Center, 171 Center Street, Bowling Green, KY, 270-782-4437
Gasper Brewing Company, 302 State Street, Bowling Green, KY. – need volunteers to serve food
Mayfield City Hall, 211 E. Broadway, Mayfield, KY – Volunteers needed with exercises
Marshall County High School, 416 High School Road. Benton, KY 42025 (Volunteers will be transported to affected areas daily starting at 7 a.m.)
Kentucky Volunteer Disaster Relief Organizations
God’s Pit Crew – Crisis Response Team
Rubicon Disaster Response Team
Alliance Community Church, 1055 North Main Street, Madisonville, KY, 270-821-2000
Heads of Mercy – Mayfield, KY Tornado Response (shifts available all week)
Samaritan’s purse international relief
Kentucky Tornado Relief Initiative by Senate candidate Charles Booker
Eight Days of Hope – Rapid Response Event (Mayfield, KY)
Support pets / animals in need
Humane Society Animal Rescue and Response Team
Adopt a pet or donate to these local shelters:
Ceglinski veterinary clinic, 5401 Blandville Rd., Paducah, KY, 270-554-0171 (offering free housing for displaced animals)
River Retriever Kennels LLC, 5796 Old Mayfield Rd., Paducah, KY, 270-556-4433 (accommodation for displaced pets)
Marcus Rushing, 224 Hughes Rd., Wickliffe, KY, 985-605-4068 (owns pasture and barn for cattle / horses, free for tornado victims)
Mociso Farms Livestock Sanctuary & Rescue Ltd., 595 Osborne Road Ekron, Ky. (Drop off pet supplies, food and other disaster relief items from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
Refer community members in distress to these helplines
SAMHSA – Call or text 1-800-985-5990
Report an abusive price
It is illegal for retailers to raise the prices of certain things in an emergency. If you see this happening, you can report it online or call 1-888-432-9257. According to the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, the goods and services affected by this ban include: consumer food products; goods or services used for emergency cleaning; emergency supplies; medical material; heating oil; construction materials; lodging; transport, freight and storage services; and gasoline or other fuels.
This is an evolving list of ways community members can help with disaster relief efforts. This message will be updated. Contact Jasmine Demers at [email protected] with suggestions for additions.