05/21/2025
TORNADO RESPONSE
It's been a difficult few days for so many St. Louisans. Our prayers go out to the St. Louis community and the many lives impacted by the recent tornado.
Marian LaVerne Coffman
Owner
Fanice Keen Apartment Homes LLC
Following is a repost of resources my friend and mentor Jeff Smith of MOWHA.org shared via email.
“HOUSING
If you know anyone who is in immediate need of shelter, the Red Cross Shelters have capacity at:
The Recreational Center - 1410 S. Tucker Blvd. 63104
Friendly Temple Outreach Center - 6356 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. 63133
With thanks to St. Louis Magazine, here is a list of ADDITIONAL ways you can help:
One resource with which many of you can help is affordable housing. Thousands of people are estimated to have been displaced from their homes and apartments. MOWHA member Tower Grove Community Development Corporation is trying to help with that by matching property owners with tenants in need. If you are willing to rent to a displaced family, please fill out this form and you may be matched with a prospective tenant soon: Tornado Response - Property Listings
SUPPLIES:
Greater St. Louis and St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer are calling to the community to donate tools, plywood, tarp, caulk, and wood screws. Donations can be made at the O’Fallon Park YMCA (4343 W. Florissant), The Urban League headquarters (Kingshighway and Page), and 4 the Ville (4144 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Donate food and supplies to Food City STL at the YMCA emergency hub (4343 W. Florissant).
Salvation Army donations can be made here.
Work & Leisure STL (3015 Locust) is accepting non-perishable food items, bottled water, diapers, formula, hygiene supplies, clean clothes, and laundry supplies.
City Foundry has announced that the first of its new series of Live Art Markets will be dedicated to providing relief to affected communities.
Tornado Relief Night is scheduled for May 21 from 5:30–8:30 p.m. and includes a non-perishable food drive, as well as other fundraising and volunteer opportunities.
STL-Style is accepting donations of supplies for victims, volunteers, and first responders from 12-4 p.m. at 3159 Cherokee any day.
Brick City Yoga is collecting pet supplies following CARE STL’s urgent call for pet fosters and goods. “All donations will be delivered directly to CARE STL to support animals in need and the families who love them."
In exchange for a free draft beer, Rockwell Beer Company (1320 S. Vandeventer) is collecting tarps, gloves, canned goods, diapers, personal hygiene products, blankets, pillows, air mattresses, and cleaning supplies.
The St. Louis Early Childhood Tornado Response Team is hosting a supply drive on May 21 at 602 W. Kirkham in Webster Groves. The needed supplies list includes outdoor play toys, hygiene products, water, non-perishable foods, cleaning supplies, diapers, formula, and infant care items.
City Sprouts (8807 Ladue) is collecting diapers, wipes, formula, and new or gently used baby and children’s clothing through May 22 for donations to St. Louis Crisis Nursery and The Urban League of St. Louis.
Water is the biggest need for the 4theVille (4144 Dr. Martin Luther King) supply site, as well as construction and clean-up materials, batteries, flashlights, Lysol wipes, power banks, and charcoal for outdoor grills.
Water is also a major need for Action St. Louis’ drive at The O’Fallon Park Rec Center (4343 W. Florissant), as well as tarps, rope, staple guns, batteries, flashlights, diapers, baby and body wipes, formula, reusable bags, tents, ponchos, and non-perishable foods.
The Luminary (2701 Cherokee) is hosting a drop-off location for tornado relief supplies May 20–May 25, noon–4 p.m. All donations will be taken to the O’Fallon Park donation hub or distributed directly to individuals in North St. Louis who have reached out with specific needs.
CAM is serving as a drop-off site May 20–25, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., for supplies and is coordinating with Saint Louis Public Schools to distribute donations to students and families in North St. Louis. Requested donations include bottled water, hygiene supplies, household and cleaning products, bedding, baby supplies, and wet-weather support.
Donate money:
Donate to the City of St. Louis Tornado Response Fund.
Make monetary donations to The United Way STL Area Severe Storm/Tornado Relief Fund.
To enforce efforts to rebuild Fountain Park’s Centennial Christian Church, give to the Centennial Community Relief Fund.
Visit GoFundMe pages to assist individual families and businesses directly through verified fundraisers.
Donate to Heatup/Cooldown STL to help provide utility assistance.
Gladiator Consulting gathering funds to work with local nonprofits to provide prescription medicines, shelter, and supplies to those in need.
Keyway Center for Diversion and Reentry is raising money to repair damage and continue operations at its Sharon’s House building.
Rx Outreach’s relief program is offering a 90-day supply of medications to those in need. Donate to the program here.
Mann Meats (300 Saint Ferdinand, Florissant) has been preparing and delivering hot meals to tornado victims each day.
Food City is coordinating with Alderwoman Daniela Velazquez to distribute food and supplies from South City to neighborhoods in West and North City. The donation site is Power Creative (3221 Oak Hill).
VOLUNTEER
ForTheCultureSTL and Action St. Louis have been organizing a group volunteer effort to support food and supplies distributions. Sign up here.
The St. Louis Area Foodbank is calling for volunteers to assist with debris removal and cleanup, as well as sorting and distributing food, water, and essential supplies to individuals affected by the storm.
Join the Sunday Clean-Up with Lifeline Aid Group and follow their social media page for future meetups.
St. Louis Early Childhood Tornado Response Team is organizing volunteer-led cleanup and restoration efforts to support affected child care centers.
City Sewing Room is organizing an effort to make tote bags, filled with supplies, for tornado relief efforts on May 21. Can’t make it? Pick up the materials from 6700 Arsenal, which is also a supply donation site, and create from home.
Hope you can help!
Best,
Jeff Smith, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Missouri Workforce Housing Association”
