Tornado Relief Fund - Helping Nashville Families

We're coming up on the one-year anniversary of the tornadoes that ripped apart East Nashville and continued across the state. While so much progress has been made, the work is still ongoing. For two weeks immediately following the storm, work was constant. Then the pandemic hit, and everything non-essential was halted. Our work has continued, both in meeting immediate needs (food, clothing, household items, etc.) and in larger, longterm needs (housing, employment, rent assistance, etc.)

We still have displaced families from the storm. We've worked with many to find temporary housing, and then worked to meet their immediate needs once the pandemic started. It's been an ongoing process. In some cases, repair and construction are only just beginning. 

As the anniversary approaches (March 3), we'll be recapping and sharing stories of the work so far. Please tune in to our social media channels. 

facebook.com/marthaobryancenter

instagram.com/marthaobryancenter

twitter.com/marthaobryanctr

Links:

• Find us on Facebook
• Like us on Instagram for more stories.
• Follow us on Twitter

Our families in East Nashville are still rebuilding after the March tordanoes --rebuilding homes, and rebuilding careers and family economic plans due to jobs lost from the destruction.  Our food bank remains the busiest in the entire city.  Between the tornadoes and pandemic combined, we have distributed over $300,000 in replaced income as financial assistance for rent and other emergency expenses for families.  We have also provided free counseling to over 100 families experiencing trauma and post-traumatic stress after the tornadoes.

As winter approaches, we are preparing a socially-distanced and outdoor clothing give away (like a yard sale but free) to distribute more of the clothing that was donated after the tornadoes hit.  Many of the items we collected are coats and other layers that were not as needed in March but now our families are asking for clothing a lot more a the weather changes.  They are jsut now realizing that this is anoher part of their wardrobe that they lost when their homes were destroyed.

We are grateful for the encouragement from all over the country as we continue to support families coping with so many challenges at once in 2020. Thank you!