Local News

How To Pay It Forward To Weld Co. Tornado Victims

DENVER (CBS4) ― Several northern Colorado commmunities were devastated by a tornado on May 22. Windsor was hit hardest, but Gilcrest, Platteville, Dacono, Milliken, Timnath and Greeley also had damaged areas.

At least 800 homes were damaged in some way in Windsor. Windsor's mayor said 79 of those homes were considered a total loss.

It's not known yet the full damage totals across Weld County, but the county assessor Chris Woodruff told the Longmont Times-Call at the end of May that they had "identified as a possibility of 5,000 properties that could have been damaged that lie along where the tornadoes hit."

If you want to help the tornado victims, there are many established funds, but officials say it pays to do your homework to make sure your donation goes to the place you really want it to.

Windsor officials are offering advice that's specific to relief in their community on their Web site, which states "There are many funds established for helping Windsor residents. The town cannot endorse a particular fund, and we encourage residents to do research and select contributions carefully."

Windsor has an established relationship with the Community Foundation serving Greeley and Weld County, which is gathering money to both assist Windsor residents and to "re-create lost park and recreation amenities." They list the following information about those fundraising efforts:

-- Checks to the Community Foundation with "Tornado Relief Windsor": written in the memo field will go to assist Windsor residents and there will be an application process.
-- Checks to the Community Foundation, with "Windsor Re-Create Fund" written in the memo field, will be utilized to re-create lost park and recreation amenities. This fund was established by Windsor's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board who will administer disbursements.

The address such checks should be sent to is:
The Community Foundation
Tornado Relief Fund
711 8th Ave
Greeley, CO 80631

Online donations for the fund, which also helps other tornado-hit communities in the county, can be made at greeleyweldcomfound.org.

The Weld Food Bank helped out with disaster response on a large scale. Checks or money orders may be mailed to the food bank, located at 1108 H Street, Greeley, CO 80631. Donations of cases of non-perishable foods are accepted 8 to 4 daily at our warehouse, located at 1108 H Street in Greeley.

On May 23 CBS4 held a day-long fundraising effort with the Mile High chapter of the American Red Cross and raised more than $50,000. Calls came in from all over the country, including Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina and California.  People who called just wanted to help those in need.

"It's been amazing. I've done these things before and not had this kind of response," said Greg Geissler, Red Cross Director of Fund Development.

Less than a week after the tornado struck, the Red Cross announced that they had raised enough money to cover their response effort to those affected by the tornadoes.

The United Way continues to handle volunteer coordination and in-kind offers. You can call 2-1-1 for more information.

Community Foundation President Thanks Contributors 

The Associated Press reported on June 5 that nearly $700,000 in donations had poured in for the tornado victims.

"It's just incredible," said Judy Knapp, president of the Community Foundation. "It makes you so proud to be a part of Northern Colorado."

Knapp said her organization had raised more than $228,000. A member of a country club near Windsor walked into the office with a $55,000 check on Wednesday, $30,000 of which he received from other club members, she said.

"It's just been remarkable with what is coming in with the donations by mail," Knapp said. "We've had checks coming from school children, and people will say 'I know this isn't much, but I'm sending what I can."'

She said some businesses have sent $1,000 checks and have encouraged their employees to donate. Knapp said disbursement applications are now available on the Community Foundation's Web site.

The American Red Cross raised at least $300,000 in tornado relief, spokesman Robert Thompson said in an e-mail.

"The Red Cross has done a tremendous job in terms of emergency disbursements for housing, food and things like that," said Melissa Chew, Windsor's director of Parks and Recreation for the town of Windsor.

Chew said she was aware of at least six other fundraising efforts, including one by Windsor-based Stepping Stones, which helps low-income residents with mortgage and rental payments. She said that group has received about $45,000 in donations.

The United Way of Weld County Web site said the charity has raised nearly $100,000 so far.

Cathy Kissner of Adventist Community Services said her organization has raised about $2,000 and is dispersing a variety of items including shampoo, conditioner and toothpaste.

Catholic Charities in Denver has collected $21,000 for tornado relief, spokesman Randy Weinert said.

He said the Catholic Charities USA disaster relief fund and the Archdiocese of Denver each gave $10,000 and the other money came from individuals. Catholic Charities also has an emergency assistance center that provided food to people who lost their homes, he said.

CBS4's Pay it Forward Colorado project

Pay it Forward offers Coloradans $1,000 and the opportunity to change someone else's life. With the project, we also track others who are paying it forward on their own to help others.

If you would like to be considered to be a CBS4 Pay it 4ward giver, share short, creative videos with us explaining why you'd like to participate and how you would use the money. Also, include a short summary of your plan as well as your name, address, and contact information.

 YouReport: Share Your Pay It 4ward Ideas
 Email Ideas: payit4ward@cbs4denver.com
 Snail Mail Entries: CBS4 Pay It Forward Colorado, 1044 Lincoln Street, Denver, CO 80203

(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

---