How you can help victims of the Rochelle, Fairdale tornadoes
Many organizations are collecting money and supplies for victims of the tornadoes that hit Fairdale and the Rochelle area.
Some groups are organizing volunteers, though others are discouraging helpers from showing up at the scene at this point. Jenny Thompson, marketing and public relations manager for the city of Rochelle, said an announcement will be made in a day or two about how volunteers can get involved.
Here's how you can help:
• The West Chicago Fire Protection District will accept donations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through April 18 at Fire Station 6, 200 Fremont St. Items being accepted are bottled water, nonperishable food, new or slightly used clothing, toiletries, paper goods and gift cards.
• Updated emergency information for Kirkland and Fairdale is at villageofkirland.com. There is also a link to the official GoFundMe account established at Alpine Bank in Kirkland for people wishing to donate.
• A survivor of the 2013 Washington, Ill., tornado established a YouCaring.com fundraiser for the victims of the Fairdale tornado with distribution through the Kirkland Lions Club. As of 4 p.m. Friday, the fundraising site at youcaring.com/emergency-fundraiser/fairdale-illinois-tornado-relief-/335518 had received $5,576 in donations.
Jewel Ward grew up near Fairdale but lived through the tornado in Washington, near Peoria. She wrote on the new site that she wanted to return the support she received from Fairdale while she recovered from the earlier disaster.
"When the tornado hit Washington, I took refuge (in Fairdale) while Washington was in the very first days of recovery," Ward wrote. "The love and support for those that knew what Washington had experienced was overwhelming."
• Virginia-based Operation Blessing International, one of the largest charities in the nation, is already in Rochelle.
Volunteers are asked to meet at the Operation Blessing mobile command center at Jones Road and 8th in Rochelle beginning at 9 a.m. sharp today. The local volunteer hotline, which will be staffed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, is (757) 374-0944.
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, dressed for work in the field, and provide their own transportation to and from the work site. Operation Blessing will provide assignments, management and tools.
For more information, visit ob.org.
• The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois has already mobilized all the volunteers it needs. Communications Manager Patricia Kemp said Red Cross volunteers, who make up 94 percent of the agency's workforce, must go through training and background checks before being deployed.
Kemp recommends that anyone who wants to volunteer in this kind of a disaster register with the Red Cross for the next one. In the meantime, financial donations and blood donations are needed. Visit redcross.org/il/chicago for more information. There's also a donation page on which contributors can specify where and how they would like their money used at redcross.org/donate/neu0215-h? flow=oc1&loggedIn=false.
• Illinois Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger has activated "Illinois Gives," a program allowing state employees and retirees to make a donation from their paychecks to help Thursday's tornado victims.
The portal can be accessed at illinoiscomptroller.com.
• Lutheran Church Charities has set up a disaster relief fund that people can donate to online or at (866) 455-6466. Mail donations should have "Disaster Relief" in the memo line and be sent to Lutheran Church Charities, 333 W. Lake St., Addison IL 60101.
Trinity Lutheran Church in Genoa will serve as the base of operation for the Lutheran Early Response Team volunteers being deployed.
• A GoFundMe page has been set up for the recovery of the Summerdale Zoo in Belvidere at gofundme.com/rj3k9xc. According to the site, two animals at the zoo were killed during the tornado and several key pieces of infrastructure were badly damaged.
• The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division serving Greater Chicago and Northern Illinois is distributing information on how to donate online at salarmychicago.org/donate/. People can also call (800) SAL-ARMY or text SACHICAGO to 80888 to make a $10 donation. Checks may be mailed to The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division, 5040 N. Pulaski, Chicago IL 60630.
• A Facebook page also has been set up with information on how to help at facebook.com/pages/Fairdale-IL-Tornado-Recovery/786880028073850? fref=ts.