BATON ROUGE. Louisiana United Ways have UNITED to help neighbors impacted by yesterday’s devastating tornadoes. The Louisiana United Way Tornado Fund has been launched to leverage resources and make the greatest impact in long-term recovery efforts for communities hit by the Feb. 23 storms. Households in several parishes experienced devastating loss, with a large concentration of families affected in St. James and St. John parishes.
The Louisiana United Way Tornado Fund will provide resources for the recovery efforts in the affected regions. Financial donations to the fund can be made online at www.launitedway.org. Donors can also text gifts to LAUnited to 313-131. Donations can also be mailed to the Louisiana United Way Tornado Fund, c/o Louisiana Association of United Ways, P.O. Box 3416, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821. Additionally, you may also deliver donations to the fund to a nearby Louisiana United Way.
Donations were kickstarted with a $100,000 gift from David Fennelly, chair of Associated Terminals and Turn Services. He challenges other businesses and individuals to join him in helping storm victims. On the night the tornadoes hit, Associated Terminals in Convent was used as a temporary shelter and triage area for victims.
"The tornadoes were a terrible tragedy. Our motto at Associated Terminals is 'The ability and attitude to accomplish anything,'" Fennelly said. "I want the storm victims to know that with United Way, we have the ability and attitude to accomplish raising funds to help them recover."
Citizens in need of assistance should dial 2-1-1. Those interested in volunteering should contact their local United Way.
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United Way brings together people and organizations that have passion, expertise and resources to address a community need. As in the past during times of disaster, United Way works to identify the highest priority needs, distribute resources and connect those impacted with needed assistance.