How to get or provide help in Calhoun County | Community Spirit

In the wake of the devastating tornadoes that hit across the state, WBRC has gotten lots of requests of "how can we help?" and "where can we go to get help?"

Here's our list of ways you can donate your time and money, give necessities to the victims, and lend a helping hand in the relief effort, plus links to various websites with more information. We've also included information for the storm victims, including locations of shelters, places giving first aid and food distributions.

(If you have a something to add to this list for the Calhoun County area, please leave a comment on this story.  We want to help make as much information available as possible.)

Donations needed:

Calhoun County EMA specifically requests the following items: rope, tools, gloves, masks, tarps, first aid supplies, baby/infant supplies (diapers, formula, wipes)

• Ohatchee and Shoal Creek are in need of baby bottles, baby food, formula, water, food, toothbrushes, tooth paste, blankets and clothes.  Drop off areas are 10 Island Baptist Church on Highway 77 and the Ohatchee Town Hall.
• Oxford and Jacksonville Quizno’s in Oxford and Effinas is accepting donations of money, water, food, clothing, coolers, etc. Also collecting items for workers such as sun block, work gloves, work goggles, coolers, ice.

• Eagle Point Church, 301 Henry Road SW, Jacksonville

• Isaiah 58-Word Alive Church, Highway 78

• Piedmont Benevolence Center, Highway 9. Near nursing home.

• Anniston: Salvation Army, 420 Noble Street

• Alexandria: Mt. Zion Baptist Church at 101 Zion Rd. in Alexandria asking for donations of bathing supplies, towels, soap, shampoo, etc.

Volunteers needed:

• Ohatchee: Volunteers must check-in at Ohatchee Police Dept. at 7801 Hwy 77
• Ohatchee: Williams Baptist Church at 5579 Nesbit Lake Rd

Services offered:

• Anniston: Washin’ Coin Laundry is offering pick up and drop off service for Pell City storm victims. Cost is $1 per pound and may be reimbursed by home owners association. Contact tlynch3777@gmail.com
• Counseling services: Residents in effected areas who would like to receive counseling  may contact Robin Bridges at 256-236-8003.

Register for FEMA:

Individuals and businesses can begin the process of registering for disaster assistance from FEMA by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by going to www. disasterassistance.gov. This will expedite the process of receiving assistance from FEMA.

(WEB EXTRA: Click here for the full list of help locations throughout the region)

Doctors and Nurses Needed:

• If you are an EMT, RN, Dr. or in the medical profession, please contact DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa or go there with your LICENSE to offer assistance (205.759.7111)

Getting help for your pet:

• Greater Birmingham Humane Society: If you staying in a Red Cross shelter, they will contact GBHS to coordinate temporary boarding of your pet. If you would like to stay with your pet, visit www.petswelcome.com for a list of pet friendly hotels in the area.
• If you are missing your pet or have found one, use the lost and found tool on the GBHS website, visit: http://www.gbhs.org/site/PageServer?pagename=LF_Lost_Dogs

What to do with injured wildlife:

If you find an injured bird in your yard among the storm debris, call the Alabama Wildlife Center’s Wildlife Help Line at (205) 663-7930, extension 2 and leave a brief message that includes name and telephone number with area code. A trained specialist monitors the line from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. every day, and returns calls within the hour to give advice on what to do next.

If injured or orphaned mammals (squirrels, deer, raccoons, etc.) or reptiles and amphibians (snakes, lizards, frogs, etc.) are found, contact the Wild Mammal Care of Alabama at (205) 871-7803 or  Alabama Reptile Rescue Sanctuary at (205) 253-1283.

Returning personal documents/photographs found in debris:

There's a Facebook page now dedicated to the recovery of documents, photos and other debris that people are finding in their yards back to their original owners. Search for "Pictures and Documents found after the April 27, 2011 Tornadoes" in Facebook or click that link.

Want to donate money?  Here’s how:

• The Red Cross. Visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Contributions may also be sent to local American Red Cross chapters or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
• At the BJCC: Donation barrels will be placed at the Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil festival site to collect donations for the Mid Alabama Region of the American Red Cross for Alabama tornado relief efforts.  Community volunteers will also be present to assist with the fundraising efforts. Gates open at 4 p.m. Friday, April 29 for the weekend event at the BJCC.
• Volunteers of America Southeast is accepting monetary donations to aid victims of the tornadoes. Text VOA to 27722 from your mobile phone or visit www.voase.org to donate online or to send a check. One hundred percent of all monies received by Volunteers of America Southeast will be used by VOA provide food, water, medical, and other humanitarian aid to the people directly affected by this disaster. All funds will be used directly for relief efforts. Volunteers are also needed. For more info or to volunteer to help, call Paul McLendon at 251-422-7729
• Any Regions Bank: donations for the American Red Cross’ Tornado Disaster Relief Fund will be accepted from the general public at all Regions Bank branches in the 16 states the company serves.
• First Priority is engaging with local churches and other ministries to provide services and supplies to children and youth groups in the areas affected by the tornados. We are accepting monetary donations that will be used 100 percent to provide supplies and services to those affected by the disaster. To donate online, please visit www.gofirstpriority.com and click on "First Priority Tornado Relief Efforts" or call 205.871.8886. For those 16 years of age or older who would like to help with clean-up efforts (manual labor) in areas affected by the storms, please e-mail: matt@gofirstpriority.com. For up-to-date, specific information and volunteer opportunities, visit our blog at http://blog.gofirstpriority.com/.

For more ways to help, check out this list from CNN.com: http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/04/28/how.to.help/