Tornadoes tore through six states in the U.S. South and Midwest earlier this month, leaving a devastating trail of damage in their wake. At least 90 lives have been lost in Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee and Arkansas, and countless homes, schools and businesses have been destroyed. Schools and community meal providers have had to adapt their already-stretched operations in entirely new ways to continue to feed kids and families affected by the tornado damage.
In addition to our ongoing work to help feed kids across these states, Share Our Strength will provide a $50,000 grant to Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland (FAKH), an organization serving 43 counties in the area, including 23 counties directly impacted by the tornado damage. The food warehouse FAKH uses to serve this area was destroyed in the storm, and this grant will help them obtain and equip alternative storage space and purchase additional food to continue supporting families in need.
We are closely monitoring the situation and working with officials, schools, and community organizations in the affected states to identify the best ways we can continue to support their recovery efforts. We’ve learned from previous disaster recovery efforts that the weeks and months after the disaster present the most critical opportunity for support, both financial and otherwise. Many of the communities impacted by these tornadoes are areas where Share Our Strength has been working closely with local partners for years, and we will stay in close touch with leaders on the ground to ensure they have the resources they need to feed kids and families.
Our hearts go out to all who have been affected by these crippling tornadoes.
