After this week’s tornadoes, Nashville responded with great spirit to the needs of those impacted. But the recovery is just beginning. Many remain without power, and some neighborhoods aren’t even safe for recovery and cleanup to begin. The Nashville Office of Emergency Management (NOEM) is urging the public to wait until storm damaged areas are deemed safe before beginning storm damage clean up and home repairs. There are still a number of downed electrical lines that are on the ground and live. Coming in contact with one of the live electrical lines can be fatal.

But in those areas where cleanup has begun, there are many opportunities to help, and if you can’t get out and provide physical assistance, there are many other opportunities to give to the effort.

If you want to volunteer to help with clean up in damaged areas contact Hands on Nashville, which is organizing volunteer efforts. You can reach Hands on Nashville at www.HON.org. Their website provides the ability to sign up for specific shifts to help.

Belmont United Methodist Church and Human Rights Campaign are partnering together to collect non-perishable food donations for tornado victims. On Thursday, March 5, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., they will be collecting needed goods, in particular food items which do not require refrigeration, such as POP top canned meats or fish, veggies and fruits, ready to eat soups and stews, as well as any nutritious, easy to store, and non-perishable food items. Drop off for donations will be at the silver van in Belmont UMC's parking lot (2007 Acklen Avenue) in the back.

According to the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce, you can make monetary or item donations to the Middle Tennessee Storm Relief via these organizations:

• Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee: CFMT manages the Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund and distributes grants to nonprofits providing vital services to those impacted.
• Community Resource Center: The CRC is collection donations of items including personal hygiene items, bleach, trash bags, gloves, batteries, flashlights, and box cutters.
• United Way of Greater Nashville: United Way manages the Restore the Dream Fund, which provides long-term disaster recovery and support in coordination with United Way Worldwide.
• Second Harvest Food Bank: SHFB assists residents and other relief organizations as they work to assist the affected community. They specifically seek pop-top canned meats, vegetables, and fruits, ready-to-eat soups and stews, peanut butter and crackers, cereal, and breakfast and energy bars.

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