Nashville is under water, and we all want to help. This is a working post of donation and volunteer opportunities that are currently available, with needs being added and updated by the minute. If you have a volunteer or donation opportunity, please leave information in the comments or email us at tips@nashvillest.com to have it added to this list. And remember, folks: As much as we all want to get out and help, it’s very important to go about it in an organized, safe way. Plenty of our neighbors and friends are in need of food, clothing, shelter, water pumps and more. Start in your own neighborhood!
All Metro Nashville official relief efforts will run through Hands On Nashville. Go HERE to sign up to be notified when volunteer opportunities are approved by the city, and follow them @HONashville for minute-by-minute updates. All relief efforts must go through Hands On Nashville to receive FEMA aid. From Hands On Nashville:
As the case in any disaster, the recovery phase is the longest part of the experience, and one that requires a strong and sustained effort from volunteers. While the events of the past 48 hours have created a sense of urgency, the real effects of volunteers are going to be felt through the rest of this week and month as we do the nitty-gritty work of cleaning, rebuilding, and restoring.
I HAVE MONEY
- The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee: In partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management, donate online to the Metro Nashville Disaster Response Fund and/or the Tennessee Emergency Relief Fund HERE (checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 440225, Nashville, TN, 37244).
- Middle Tennessee Red Cross: Donate online at www.nashvilleredcross.org, by phone at 615-250-4300 or by mail at 2201 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203. Remember, the Red Cross is not a government agency and is funded solely by your local donations.
- Second Harvest Food Bank: Give a monetary donation to our superstar food bank HERE.
- Salvation Army: Monetary donations are preferred and can be made online HERE or by phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
- First Tennessee Bank: First Tennessee has pledged to match donations made by employees and customers, dollar for dollar, up to $250,000. Donations can be made at any First Tennessee Bank location.
- Kroger, Dollar General, Whole Foods: Accepting donations at checkout.
I HAVE STUFF
- Graceworks Ministries: Graceworks is working with the Red Cross to collect donations for flood victims. They are in need of financial gifts, non-perishable food items (soup, crackers, pasta), bottled water, toilet paper, cleaning products, toothbrushes, shampoo, household items, furniture, baby items and gently used clothing (please separate by gender and age). Drop off donations at 104 Southeast Parkway, Franklin TN.
- Shelters: There are Red Cross shelters at Lipscomb University, Gordon Jewish Community Center, Al Menah Shrine Center and People’s Church (Franklin). Most shelters are overwhelmed by donations, so please verify their needs before you dump a truck full of beef jerky on them. Common needs for shelters are bottled water, blankets, pillows, socks, underwear and clean clothing.
- Salvation Army: The Salvation Army suffered losses just like the rest of us. They are in need of clean-up kit items (mops, brooms, heavy duty work gloves, masks, sponges, squeegees, scrub brushes, plastic gloves, bleach, all-purpose cleaner concentrate, trash bags, paper towels and cases of bottled water), Hygiene & personal care kit items (socks, underwear, t-shirts, shampoo conditioner, soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc), paper products and diapers. Drop off at 425 Neelys Bend Rd, Madison (10am-7pm), 611 Stockell St (9am-6:30pm) or 631 Dickerson Pike (8am-6pm).
- The Crag at Cool Springs: Drop point for donated goods to be taken to Graceworks (see needs above).
- Trevecca Nazarine University: Group is taking food, water, first aid and toiletries to flooded neighbors around the university. If you’re in the area and want to help distribute, call Dan at 941-518-6740. Drop off donations at the Boone Business Building.
- Golden Skin Care: Golden Skin Care is collecting donations of sunscreen for flood relief volunteers. Drop off donations at 2000 Richard Jones Rd. in Green Hills.
- Christ Church: Christ Church (15354 Old Hickory Blvd) is collecting and distributing bottled water, new clothes and cleaning supplies.
- Flavour Clothing: Drop site for toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, box fans, cleaning supplies, diapers and nonperishable staple food items. 1522 Demonbreun Street.
- CREMA: Taking donations for Tent City survivors. Drop off items in the parking lot behind CREMA (15 Hermitage Ave), need tents, stoves, sleeping bags, tarps and clothing.
- GracePointe: Drop site for Graceworks, collecting soup, crackers and underwear specifically. 1213 Country Road, Franklin.
- On The Go: Needs donations of bottled water (cases), goggles with no vent holes, gloves, N-95 respirators, trash bags, cleaning supplies, RVs and trailers to house short term team members, interns and volunteers through August.
- The Anchor Fellowship: Drop site for socks, toiletries, underclothing, summer clothes all sizes, bedding, fungal cream, water, feminine products (7am-7am, 629 3rd Ave S.). They are distributing items to the community as fast as they get them.
- Donate Nashville: We’ve worked alongside members of the Nashville tech community, Cool People Care and the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville to develop a Craigslist-style tool to hook up people who have stuff with other people who need it. Read more about it here.
I HAVE TIME
- Hands On Nashville: Again, all Metro Nashville relief efforts are running through Hands On Nashville. Sign up to be notified of official city volunteer opportunities HERE, and expect the opportunities to increase in volume as the waters recede and the city is able to assess the damage.
- Samaritan’s Purse: Samaritan’s Purse has deployed an emergency unit to Nashville and is working on assessing the damage and connecting with local churches. Sign up HERE (select “Nashville TN Flood Relief”) to volunteer with them.
- Second Harvest Food Bank: Contact volunteer@secondharvestmidtn.org to help prepare and transport meals for the Salvation Army and Red Cross. You can also stay updated on their current volunteer opportunities via Twitter @2HarvestMidTN.
- Graceworks Ministries: Contact cdublin@graceworksministries.net for volunteer opportunities. They will need help sorting & processing donations for the Red Cross.
- Cross Point: Meeting in Bellevue center (7669 HWY 70 South) lobby every day at 9am to send teams out to nearby neighborhoods. Can take hundreds of volunteers every day. Focusing on Bellevue neighborhoods now, but will move to other West Nashville neighborhoods in the coming days. Bring box fans, lysol, gloves, masks, cleaning supplies, tarps, water, contractor trash bags, wheelbarrow, plastic bins or boxes and dehumidifiers to donate.
- Soles4Souls: Soles4Souls has generously donated 20,000 pair of shoes and boots to families and workers in need. They’re going to need help distributing these shoes, so call Isabelle at 615.391.5723 to volunteer in the coming days. And as always, they could use your monetary donations if you feel so inclined: Donate here.
- ArtHouse Gardens: Teams are being organized to help neighbors who need furniture moved, debris bagged up or removed, help getting things out of water’s way or cleaning up once it’s gone. To help or receive help from 9-3 every day, call Catherine at ArtHouse Gardens at 828-9223.
- Oasis Church: Oasis Church is putting together teams to meet the needs of the community. If you would like to volunteer with them, email linda.trotter@oasischurch.tv and give your name, address, phone number, email address, specific skills, resources and materials you can provide, and your time availability. They will put you to work!
- Convoy of Hope: Convoy of Hope has hit the ground running in Nashville, with four mobile trailers arriving in town today. To apply to volunteer with them (you will help distribute goods to communities in need), click HERE and fill out the Disaster Relief Volunteer Application.
- On The Go: Taking teams of volunteers to help distribute, clean, assist, pack, deliver, and provide services for needy in the area. To join up with On The Go, call or email at 615-299-0222 and IWantToHelp@onthego.org.
- Donate Nashville: In addition to hooking people up with the stuff they need, Donate Nashville also allows people to list the times that they’re available to volunteer and search the requests for help that other folks have posted. Read more about it here.
I HAVE THE INTERNET
- Hendersonville Flood Relief Facebook Group
- Nashville Flood Help on Facebook
- Trevecca’s Flood Recovery Efforts on Facebook
- The People’s Church Flood Network on Facebook
LAST UPDATED: May 5, 2am
Photo by president_raygun.
Related posts:
- Donate Nashville: Connecting People In Need With Neighbors Who Care [Flood 2010]
- Local Businesses Pitch In For Flood Relief [Flood 2010]
- Flooded Out: Open Thread Of Nashville & Franklin Flood Closures [Flood 2010]
- We Have A Situation: Nashville Is Sinking [Flood 2010]
- Flood FAQ: Clearing Up The Information Disaster [Flood 2010]
Lipscomb shelter is only accepting water at this time. A friend just went by to donate and confirmed.
Crosspoint is also doing tons to help: http://www.crosspoint.tv/flood/happenings/flood...
Great compilation. I just wish I was physically there to help.
Excellent list…And please remember that small towns surrounding Nashville need help too: Clarksville, Kingston Springs, Franklin, Lebanon, and so many others. Lend a hand where it is most needed.
I've created a website to track available opportunities to donate and volunteer: http://flashhelp.org/
Feel free to add/edit/remove info on the site to keep it updated.
yawn who gives a fuck about the trash-dump of america
lets go help haiti
Wow! i feel really sorry for you…only miserable losers think like that..
Thank goodness that the number of people who think like you are in the bleak minority. I feel sorry for how much a miserable human you are. I truly hope that when you need help one day, someone will be able to look past your bigoted view of the world and give you helping hand…
How does the air smell up there?
Thank goodness that the number of people who think like you are in the bleak minority. I feel sorry for how much a miserable human you are. I truly hope that when you need help one day, someone will be able to look past your bigoted view of the world and give you helping hand…
How does the air smell up there?
New Jersey is praying for you all! Spreading the word about how we can help from afar. Hang in there!
From a NJ resident raised in Franklin, TN
Thanks for taking leadership in time of need!
I would like to know where all of the Nashville “celebrities” are.
Where are the Titans players standing in front of the media asking people to volunteer? Where are the country music stars? Where is Big and Rich. Where is Taylor Swift? Where are the Predators players? They are all turning their back on the city that has allowed them to reach the fame and wealth they have accrued. One thing about McNair, even though he was a POS in his personal life, he would have been down there from day 1 IN the community offering help and organizing help efforts.
The residents of Nashville and Nashvillest have done all of this on their own, and for that, they deserve the upmost respect. However, out local “community heros” are nowhere to be seen.
Oh, sorry…Poor Keith Urban lost musical equipment. Boo Hoo. There are thousands of people less fortunate than yourself out there whom you are turning your back on.
And some of the Twitter “gurus” in this city are some of the biggest whiners that I have ever seen. They won't get out and offer any type of help, but they WILL sit behind their computers and iPhones all day and bitch and whine that the national media outlets aren't giving Nashville fair coverage.
Convoy of Hope is in Tennesee with 4 trucks of goods.They are taking donations also go to http://www.convoyofhope.org
Thanks for all you are doing to help Nashville and the surrounding areas to recover. All of us working together can make difference.
You don't seems to be doing much but bitching and complaining either…
I just want to thank you guys for everything you've been doing. When I didn't have power, your twitter feed on my cell phone was my only link to the outside and you're doing such a fantastic service to our city. Thank you!
Great list. Thanks for sharing.
If you're on Facebook, please join the group 'East Park Community Center Disaster Assistance,' devoted to the victims of East Nashville.
Even just this morning, an elderly couple was found, safe and alive, stranded in their house, waiting for help. It ain't over, folks!!
http://leviwatson.wordpress.com/2010/05/06/rebu...
there are a few vintage shops on Etsy offering up 50% of the proceeds of their sales to help with flood relief:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleOceanAnnie
http://www.etsy.com/shop/mousevox
They are hosting a fundraiser and donating money. Vince Gill donated $100,000 and Taylor Swift donated $400,000. Others performed and manned telephones. Several others were out helping people. I can't remember names because there were many and I don't know all the Titans. They helped with heavy lifting when people needed it after flooding. The response after all the flooding has been amazing. This is true for regular folks and celebrities – pro football players, country music singers, and yes, even rap singer. Young Buck is manning telephones during the fundraiser. Diasters like a flood that is purely an unexpected fluke, doesn't have to bring out the worst in people. We are seeing great things in our community. I'm sorry we had this flood, but this is a great communitiy.
Will be traveling down from Chicago soon to lend a hand. Everytime I've visited Nashville I've met nothing but great people. Great, strong city. Will be back up on it's feet in no time.
Congrats on the The View linkage!! America is starting to notice, with MANY kind thanks to you guys :)
I saw Cortland Finnegan volunteering in Bellevue yesterday, so even though they aren't in front of the cameras, you have no way of knowing what they're doing to help behind the scenes. Probably shouldn't make assumptions…
No it isn't the trash dump of america….
Why is hati so much more important????
Do you have a good reason??????
No you prob don't…..
What a shame one has to post such awful comments; especially when many, many people are truly hurting in this great state.
Are there any places accepting donations of large items like funiture and such?
Is there anything that I can do from California. I hate it when something like this happens and I can't do anything.
I have good, clean women's clothing. Is there anywhere to take them?
I've got a great idea, maybe billyjean should just move to Haiti! On second thought make that Anartica :) You obviously know nothing about Nashville.
Who is you bitch?
Hey, What are Americans doing to help Americans in Nashville???? So much devastation and it only got 15 minutes of T.V. time! How pathetic……Let's all reach out!
Agree with gladilivehere & Kellie, besides, whomever helps – celebrity or not – isn't entitled to put their face on a screen for you to see. The Volunteer State lived up to it's name, not thanks to complainers like you…
I feel incredibly blessed to live in a city where hospitality and the volunteer spirit is so strong, and will forever take that with me where ever I go. Thank you Nashville! #WeAreNashville
I'm trying to get my fellow Bakersfield musicians, and citizens in general to jump on board with the flood relief efforts.
I've released this original song, and have just had it filmed for the cable TV show, Rockwell's Opry, that I'm using to raise money for the cause (or, at the very least to raise community awareness about the need).
Washed out in Nashville Tonight (audio sample)
Dr BLT
words/music by Dr BLT copyright 2010
http://www.drblt.net/music/NashvilleGLReduxDrBL...
It's from the CD, Kick-ass Country and is available by pressing “music” at:
http://www.drblt.net
Please help spread the word about this, and any of the other relief efforts that are taking place.
i live in middle tennessee. luckily our house wasnt flooded.
Our company, Mercury Magnetics, is offering a free service to musicians who have guitar amplifiers damaged by the flood. Our company builds and repairs specialty transformers. No amp that was in the flood should be turned on, to do so will destroy the transformers and possibly other components. Our company has researched and developed a process that so far has restored 90% of those tested. It's a free service, but we ask that the musician pay shipping. More information at http://www.mercurymagnetics.com. Thank you, we hope this service will be helpful.
Where was Jim Cooper our Congressman?
I believe many of us have become complacent with Jim Cooper our Congressman. For instance, many of us have grow accustomed to the norm of having politicians like Jim Cooper working for the lobbyist and self interest groups, but not for the best interest of We the People here at home.
As patriotic Americans we must remember it hasn't always been this way. Before Jim Cooper, we within the 5th district of Tennessee had elected many great statesmen to represent us within the U.S. Congress.
As you may already know, I'm one of the candidates running against Jim Cooper. However this doesn't necessarily mean you need to elect me to the U.S. Congress in order to fix this injustice. What is most important here is we need to replace Jim Cooper with someone that will live up to the words of being “our representative” in Congress.
Thank you, and God bless the Republic of the United States of America.
Eric Pearson, Democratic Party candidate for US Congress in the 5th district, Tennessee.
I am a Tennessee flood victim and I have a FEMA number. Is there any assistance available from you that I can possibly get that will help me recover and get back on my feet? Food, Clothes, Cleaning supplies and Hygiene items are needed. Thank you and God Bless!
Bobby Calvert
615-946-0010
P.O. Box 160163 Nashville, TN. 37216
I am a Tennessee flood victim and I have a FEMA number. Is there any assistance available from you that I can possibly get that will help me recover and get back on my feet? Food, Clothes, Cleaning supplies and Hygiene items are needed. Thank you and God Bless!
Bobby Calvert
615-946-0010
P.O. Box 160163 Nashville, TN. 37216