Here's a summary of resources to assist tornado and flood victims in the Jefferson City area.
ASSISTANCE
The 211 phone service, provided by United Way, helps storm victims obtain basic needs such as food, shelter, utility assistance and other services by connecting them to multiple resources. If dialing 211 fails, call 800-427-4626.
The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri will hold a temporary mobile food pantry distribution from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday at the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson City, 1105 Lafayette St. Volunteers will distribute fresh produce, ready-to-eat , dairy products, bottled water and disaster relief boxes.
United Way of Central Missouri operates a designated donation drop-off and pick-up site at Capital West Christian Event Center, 1315 Fairgrounds Road in Jefferson City. The site is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily for those who want to donate items and for those impacted by the tornado and flooding who need materials. Available items include food, clothing, personal hygiene products, cleaning supplies, paper products, home goods and more. Individuals are encouraged to call 211 prior to visiting the site if they have not already done so.
Free legal advice for storm victims can be obtained from the Missouri Bar at 800-829-4128, or the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys at 573-635-5215 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, or 573-230-8528 or [email protected].
Joshua House Church, 1136 E. Dunklin St., open 4-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, is offering free supplies for infants of storm victims. Staff will also try to deliver items if needed. Call 573-230-8274. Clothing and shoes for men, women and children are also available at the church.
Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church, 415 Lafayette St., continues to open a resource center daily which has served more than 120 people since the day after the tornado by providing meals and distributing toiletries, food, household items, gift cards and more. Call the church at 573-575-5001.
The Jefferson City Area YMCA is offering extended weekday nursery hours 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at the West YMCA, 3507 Amazonas Drive. Children 0-4 years old may stay up to two hours and children 5-13 years old up to four hours. Tornado victims who are not YMCA members must complete an information form. For more information, call 573-761-0716 or 573-761-3196.
Jefferson City residents can drop off vegetative debris (i.e., trees, brush) from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays at Twehous Excavating, 2619 N. Shamrock Road through June 16. Beginning June 17, Public Works staff will make final passes through affected areas for debris collection. Storm-only debris can be placed curbside for free collection but should be stacked parallel to and placed within 10 feet of the curb, not in the street. Debris should not block a roadway, nor be placed near trees, fire hydrants or mailboxes. Debris must also be separated into two piles: vegetative debris in one, with material cut down to no more than 8 feet in length; and storm-blown building debris in the other pile - lumber, roofing, drywall, flooring, insulation, siding, bricks, and other building materials and furnishings. Call 573-634-6410 for additional details.
Cole County will pick up vegetative debris placed beside county-maintained roadways through June 16.
Missouri River Regional Library, 214 Adams St., is hosting a community lost and found for photos, keepsake letters or other personal items found while cleaning up from the recent disasters. Members of the community can drop off found items or look for their lost items during open hours at the library.
SHELTERS
Red Cross shelters are open at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, 1201 Fairgrounds Road in Jefferson City, and at the Eldon Community Center, 309 E. Second St. in Eldon. The Humane Society of Missouri will shelter pets for people staying overnight at the middle school.
Displaced families who want a referral to stay at Columbia College's Banks Hall in Columbia need to visit the CMCA Cole County Family Resource Center, 1109 Southwest Blvd. in Jefferson City, to meet with a family resource specialist to document their needs. CMCA is requesting donations of blankets, sheets, pillows, pillowcases, towels and washcloths to assist families who move into Banks Hall. Those donations may be delivered to CMCA's Administration Building located at 807 N. Providence Road in Columbia.
State parks are offering 30 days of free camping to Missouri storm victims displaced from their homes. Call 800-334-6946 (or 800-379-2419 with deaf telecommunications device).
DONATIONS/VOLUNTEERING
United Way of Central Missouri operates a designated donation site open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily at Capital West Christian Event Center, 1315 Fairgrounds Road in Jefferson City. The site is a drop-off and pick-up location for those who want to donate items and for those impacted by the tornado and flooding who need materials. Items most in need are personal care products - such as tampons, personal wipes and diapers - along with paper goods and cleaning supplies. The list of requested items to donate can be reviewed at unitedwaycemo.org/disasterrecovery.
United Way of Central Missouri's Disaster Recovery Fund accepts contributions at unitedwaycemo.org. Monetary donations also are accepted 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the United Way office, 205 Alameda Drive. Checks should be made payable to the United Way of Central Missouri or American Red Cross Central & Northern Missouri Chapter. Please note Disaster Recovery in the memo field.
Red Cross accepts donations by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, visiting redcross.org, or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation billed to your phone. Volunteers also may register at redcross.org.
Central Missouri Community Action Cole County Family Resource Center, 1109 Southwest Blvd. in Jefferson City, accepts donations of diapers, wipes, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, shoes and clothing for families. Contributions can be given online at showmeaction.networkforgood.com/projects/73783-support-self-sufficiency. Checks may be made payable to CMCA and mailed to the attention of Cheryl Unterschutz at 807 N. Providence Road, Columbia, Missouri, 65203.
The Catholic Charities Disaster Relief Fund accepts donations to assist flood and storm victims at diojeffcity.org or cccnmo.org. Checks may also be sent to Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri, P.O. Box 104626, Jefferson City, MO, 65110.
Volunteers for general cleanup are not being requested at this time because initial cleanup is complete. Organizers may post further opportunities on unitedwaycemo.org and notify previous registrants via email about specific skills and equipment needed.