Midwest and Southeast US Tornado Relief Fund

Thank you—we cannot express enough gratitude for your generous support of GlobalGiving's Midwest and Southeast US Tornado Relief Fund. Your donation has fueled critical emergency response and recovery work led by vetted GlobalGiving nonprofit partners across multiple states that were the most affected by the devastating series of tornado outbreaks.

The 2023 tornado season has been record-breaking, with more than 1,000 confirmed tornadoes impacting the US, resulting in significant loss of life and immense damage to homes and businesses. We know that disasters, like tornado outbreaks, disproportionately affect communities that often already find themselves marginalized or excluded. When a disaster strikes, their limited financial resources and access to essential services put them at a severe disadvantage in terms of responding effectively and recovering fully.

Here is a snapshot of some of the work your donation is supporting:

• The Information Technology Disaster Resource Center’s  (ITDRC) immediately responded to the devastating tornadoes that struck Mississippi in March 2023, particularly in Sharkey County. With 16 open response sites, the organization quickly deployed Wi-Fi hubs and charging stations in underserved Black communities. These sites provided 24/7 Wi-Fi access and powered public buildings like the courthouse, city hall, and police stations. ITDRC has also supported the operations of the destroyed local Emergency Operations Center by providing telecommunication and technology equipment. In Rolling Fork, they assisted health clinics serving low-income families with power and necessary technology equipment.

• The Mississippi Food Network, a key organization fighting hunger in Mississippi since 1984, leveraged its network of more than 430 member agencies to quickly and efficiently get food into the hands of tornado-affected communities across the state. It was a lifeline to residents in places like Rolling Fork, Mississippi.

• Oklahoma Indian Legal Services (OILS) is an organization that exists to provide high-quality, free legal assistance to low-income Native Americans in Oklahoma. In response to the tornadoes that struck the state in April 2023, OILS has been inundated with requests for assistance. The organization assists individuals obtain necessary documents, provides guidance in navigating FEMA applications, offers resources for preparedness and recovery, and provides attorney representation when required. OILS remains dedicated to supporting the affected communities during the aftermath of the tornadoes and ensuring that the disaster-related legal needs of low-income Native Americans are met.

Your support of this fund is driving community-led disaster relief and recovery. Thank you again for your generosity. As GlobalGiving moves forward with additional support from this fund to advance long-term recovery needs, please expect more email updates like this one in your inbox in the months to come. You can find a full list of all organizations supported through this fund so far at the end of this report.

With gratitude, 

Victoria + GlobalGiving Team 

Center For Arkansas Legal Services

East Missouri Action Agency

Information Technology Disaster Resource Center

Mid-South Food Bank

Mississippi Food Network

Oklahoma Indian Legal Services

Southern Poverty Law Center