On Monday, January 25, a late-night tornado sustaining winds of 135 mph ravaged parts of Jefferson County, specifically the cities of Fultondale and Center Point. Unfortunately, Alabamians are all too familiar with picking up the pieces of our communities after a natural disaster. Following such a horrible event, we always see an inspiring outpouring of love as neighbors rush to help however they can. To help aid in that neighborly love, we’ve rounded up some specific ways you can pitch in and help those in these affected areas.
How to Help After the Jefferson County Tornado
(We will be updating this page as more information comes in.)
Support agencies include:
- United Way of Central Alabama
- Make monetary donations via the Disaster Relief Fund to assist with immediate needs within the community, or text TORNADO to 62644.
- If you’d like to volunteer to help with clean-up efforts, sign up HERE.
- Salvation Army Birmingham Command
- American Red Cross of Alabama and Mississippi
- The City of Birmingham
- Mayor Woodfin has arranged for Boutwell Auditorium to function as a drop-off location from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting on February 1 until February 3.
- Items needed: Canned goods, garden rakes, large trash bags, work gloves, masks, hand sanitizer and wipes, disinfectants, small tarps, individually wrapped snack items, including honey buns and protein bars. No clothes will be accepted.
Additional donation and local support options:
- Donations are being accepted at Center Point City Hall
- Items needed: non-perishable food, water, tarps, and COVID-19 supplies
- Donations being accepted at Fultondale City Hall
- Items needed: cleaning items, trash bags, water, tarps, gloves, paper towels, non-perishable food items, bedding, blankets, washcloths, towels, diapers, wipes, baby formula, flashlights, batteries, and pet food
- Donation drop-off at Fultondale Baptist Church
- Items needed: Walmart/Amazon gift cards, non-perishable food items, manual can openers, bottled water, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo and soap, diapers, wipes, baby formula, cleaning supplies, paper products, laundry detergent, and blankets
- To make a monetary donation, visit myFFBC.com and select “Give Now,” and then select “Give to Tornado Relief” in the drop-down box. 100% of donations will be used to meet the immediate needs of those directly affected by the tornado.
- The Pizitz Food Hall, The Summit, Battle Republic, and Mercedez-Benz of Irondale are accepting donated items through Friday, January 28
- Items requested: comforters, sheets, blankets, clothes, diapers, toilet paper, toiletries, toothbrushes, shampoo and conditioner
- Make a monetary donation to local disaster relief nonprofit Hatching Hope
- RealtySouth Downtown office, located at 2007 3rd Avenue North, is collecting any and all donations
- Gardendale Civic Center is an official tornado relief collection site
- Items needed: hygiene products, diapers, wipes, Ensure, baby formula, cleaning supplies, pet food, trash bags, work gloves, tarps, Gatorade, protein bars, pillows and blankets, laundry detergent, plastic totes, water, socks, Ziploc bags, hand sanitizer, and face masks
- The City of Adamsville is a donation site for the city of Fultondale. Items should be delivered to the Adamsville Public Works Department.
- Items needed: Disposable face masks, hand sanitizer, gloves (rubber gloves and work gloves), trash bags, coolers, diapers, wipes, baby bottles and formula, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, paper towels, cleaning products, socks, underwear, ready-to-eat snacks and food, first-aid supplies, tarps, Ziploc gallon bags, feminine hygiene products, and brooms, mops and rakes
- Monetary donations can be made payable to the Adamsville/Forestdale Lions Club and may be delivered to the Adamsville City Hall between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Make a monetary donation to the nonprofit Mercy Chefs, which is en route to deliver over 1,000 meals to those affected.
- The Hoover Fire Station is accepting donated items until Sunday, January 31 at 5 p.m.
If you or someone you know has been directly affected by the tornado:
- For those who have non-emergency clean-up requests, call (205) 328-9311
- Call the Red Cross directly at 1-800-RED-CROSS
- Text the Lions Club Disaster Response Team at (931) 239-3318
- Email Church of the Highlands Fultondale campus at [email protected]
We stand with you, Jefferson County!
If you have more information on ways to give back, we will continue to update this article with more information. Please email Taylor Justice at [email protected], and we will update as soon as possible.
