Springfield businesses respond to tornado

Springfield-area businesses, organizations and professionals are stepping up to help residents of tornado-ravaged Joplin.

Here’s a list of some contributions and ways to get involved.

• Ozarks Technical Community College is accepting donations of nonperishable food, water, blankets and boxes at the parking lot at the corner of National Avenue and Chestnut Expressway. Drop-off times are between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. The college is working with the Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management for distribution of the donated items.

• The Northwestern Mutual office of Aaron T. Tanner, 3506 S. Culpepper Circle, Ste. A,  is accepting nonperishable food items, clothing (T-shirts, socks, undergarments, flip-flops and sweatpants in various sizes), blankets, toiletries, bottled water, etc., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. this week.  Springfield Paper Co. will transport the supplies to Joplin.

• The Edward Jones branch office in Republic, 253 US Highway 60 West, is accepting relief items, and financial adviser Jasen Fronabarger suggests items recommended by the American Red Cross.

• Habitat for Humanity Restore, 2410 S. Scenic Ave., is taking donations of blankets, water, nonperishable foods, batteries, toiletries and medical supplies.
 
• United Way of the Ozarks has set up a relief fund for United Way of Southwest Missouri (Joplin). Monetary donations can be sent to United Way of the Ozarks, 320 N. Jefferson Ave., Springfield, MO  65806, and marked “Joplin tornado disaster relief.” United Way also says to call 2-1-1 or visit www.211missouri.org to inquire about volunteer opportunities.

• Great Southern Bank is contributing $10,000 to the American Red Cross, and its branches in southwest Missouri, eastern Kansas and northwest Arkansas will serve as public donation sites for the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The bank’s Joplin branches, 1232 S. Rangeline Road and 1710 E. 32nd, are open for business.
 
• Ozarks Food Harvest has secured six truckloads of food items and supplies to be delivered, donations are still needed at the Springfield food bank, 2810 N. Cedarbrook Ave. Monetary donations also are requested at this time and can be made securely online at www.ozarksfoodharvest.org or to OFH, Attn: Joplin Disaster Relief, PO Box 5746, Springfield, MO 65801-5746. Ozarks Food Harvest is working with the State Emergency Management Agency to coordinate additional donation deliveries.

• Community Blood Center of the Ozarks shipped more than 150 donations of blood to Joplin Sunday night, and hundreds of donations in Springfield, Joplin, and Springdale and Bentonville, Ark., Monday replenished its blood reserves.

• Community Foundation of the Ozarks, with its Joplin-Carthage area affiliate, established the Joplin Recovery Fund for donors interested in supporting mid- and long-term community redevelopment efforts. CFO will seed the fund with a $10,000 contribution on behalf of its affiliate, the Community Foundation of Southwest Missouri Inc., which covers Barton, Jasper, McDonald and Newton counties through the CFO’s regional office in Joplin. The fund’s goal is to address the needs of nonprofits in recovery efforts. CFO will make 100 percent of the Joplin Recovery Fund available for recovery grantmaking needs in Joplin. Contributions can be made online at www.cfozarks.org/donate – please note “Joplin Recovery Fund” in the Fund/Program box. Checks can be mailed to: Community Foundation of the Ozarks, PO Box 8960, Springfield, MO 65801.

• A Convoy of Hope truck in the parking lot of Springfield's Incredible Pizza Co. on South Campbell Avenue will accept donations of canned food. Incredible Pizza Co. will give a $5 game card to each family that brings a canned good.

• Price Cutter is accepting donations through June on behalf of the American Red Cross Greater Ozarks Chapter. Customers who wish to participate may have $1, $3 or $5 added to their totals at checkout.

• Ten area banks are serving as donation points for the American Red Cross. The banks are Guaranty Bank, BancorpSouth, Empire Bank, Great Southern, Metropolitan National Bank, U.S. Bank, Oakstar Bank, Springfield First Community Bank, People’s Bank of the Ozarks and Old Missouri Bank. Empire and Great Southern will match up to $5,000 in donations received.[[In-content Ad]]