We Care: Resources, Volunteer Opportunities, Important websites and numbers

For those in need of assistance here are some resources and phone numbers:

Red Cross Disaster Relief 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767)

http://www.redcross.org/volunteer

http://www.redcross.org/donate

Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services: 1-800-SAL-ARMY

Food Bank for the Heartland www.foodbankheartland.org

Nebraska Emergency Management Agency: 402-471-7421

United Way of the Midlands Dial 211

https://unitedwaymidlands.org/

Heartland Family Service 402-552-7400

Iowa Disaster Recovery CLICK HERE

Heartland Hope Mission is actively coordinating support to respond to those across the state of Nebraska, impacted by April's storms. Our West O location has now become a Crisis Response Center and will be open for families needing assistance Monday through Saturday. At this location we will offer extra assistance to families in need, providing a range of essential items, including food, diapers, formula, clothing, hygiene products, and household essentials. We will also be distributing toys to children, aiming to provide them with comfort during this challenging time. You can help by making a donation to help families recover from disaster! CLICK HERE for more info and to donate

Friday, May 3rd. Come grab one meal, or enough to last you the weekend. Operation BBQ Relief will be set up at noon and will go until we are out!

147th & Maple right behind Panera, next to Planet Fitness.

All are welcome.

Operation BBQ runs solely on donations. If you would like to donate, please text donateobr to 41444.

Red Cross Tornado Response Update

  

MAY 3, 2024 — It has been one week since the tornado outbreak in Nebraska and Iowa. In the last week, beginning in the immediate aftermath of the storm, Red Cross disaster workers have mobilized to help neighbors affected by the recent storms.  

Volunteers are continuing to distribute Emergency Relief Supplies to help residents with clean-up efforts. The relief items include rakes, shovels, trash bags, work gloves and cleaning supplies. To date, nearly 3,000 relief items have been distributed to more than 525 households. 

Along with the relief supplies, volunteers have delivered meal kits, with a variety of food items to help families in the initial days after the tornadoes. Nearly 450 meal kits have been provided. 

Additionally, volunteers continue to assess the residential damage in affected communities to better understand what help families may need in the days and weeks ahead. While the current focus is on addressing the immediate needs of those affected, the Red Cross also plays a critical role in helping families and communities recover in the weeks and months after a disaster. 

Pottawattamie County (IA) is hosting a Multi-Agency Resources Center (MARC) this weekend. The Red Cross will be present to help residents plan their next steps of recovery. The MARC is scheduled for 9 a.m.-Noon on Saturday and 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, at the Minden United Church of Christ (106 Lincoln Street, Minden, IA 51553). 

The Red Cross remains in contact with local officials across the impacted areas to evaluate the needs of the residents. 

Anyone affected by the storms can receive assistance by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). 

Those interested in donating to support Disaster Relief can visit redcross.org/donate, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or text REDCROSS to 90999.

 

Disaster Relief Effort

Starting today our disaster relief center will be open in Waterloo Nebraska.

HOURS OF OPERATION

Monday - Friday: Noon – 7:30 PM

Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00PM

Sunday: 2:00pm – 5:00pm

Hours may vary based on need.

NEED HELP (SHORT TERM OR LONG TERM)

STEP 1: Stop by our location and get any initial supplies and help us understand your needs.

STEP 2: Let us know what else you need and how we can help today and in the future.

Contact us with questions:

Phone: 402.800.9050 Dial 2

Email: connect@harvestfieldcoc.org

WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP & SUPPLIES WE HAVE

Supplies

• Food

• Water

• Clothing

• Baby Food & Items

• Cleaning Supplies

Other Services

• Debris Clean Up

• Rebuilding Effort

• Household Items

Located at Trinity Classical Academy in Waterloo NE.

Find us at the Southeast side of the building.

 

HAPPENING FRIDAY 5/3: BLAIR-LAKELAND DISASTER ASSISTANCE CENTER MOVES TO SKINNY BONES PUMPKIN PATCH, WILL START OPERATIONS THERE FRIDAY; PLUS, RESOURCE CENTER OPENS IN COUNCIL BLUFFS

 

OMAHA, Nebraska (May 2, 2024) –A new resource center opens in Council Bluffs—while, across the Missouri River, the Blair-Lakeland DAC moves into a larger space just south of its original location. Read on below for that and more, and please call 402-913-6902 with any questions.

 

In Council Bluffs Friday 5/3

The Salvation Army will help host a resource center in support of western Iowa residents impacted by the 4/26 tornadoes. The center will be open Friday from 8 a.m.-noon and again from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. inside the garage of the Foundation Building at the south end of the Charles E. Lakin Human Services Campus (815 N. 16th Street). Food, cleaning supplies, toiletries, diapers, and baby formula will be available for free to storm-impacted families and individuals. The Salvation Army is joining up with area agencies Together, Inc. and Firefly in running this resource center. 

 

In Washington Co. Friday 5/3

Thursday evening, Salvation Army crews moved the Blair-Lakeland Disaster Assistance Center (DAC) from its Lakeland Drive location onto the grounds of Skinny Bones Pumpkin Patch (3935 Hwy. 133). Meantime, The Salvation Army also transitioned the Lakeland Drive location into a pure feeding operation. Starting Friday 5/3, the DAC at Skinny Bones will be the place where storm-impacted families and individuals in the Blair area can go to pick up free household goods and yard-clean-up supplies (rakes, shovels, brooms, etc.)—while the 4861 Lakeland Drive location will be the place where meals will be served (starting at 8 a.m. Friday). This will allow more space for organizing and giving away free household goods (at Skinny Bones), while also freeing up space for expanded food service (back at the Lakeland Drive location). The new DAC will be open from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday. 

 

In Omaha Friday 5/3

The drive-thru Disaster Relief Center (DRC) in front of Brite Ideas Decorating (156th & Blondo) will be open Friday -- from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Goods including bottled water, nonperishable foods, household cleaning supplies, hygiene kits, and yard-clean-up supplies will be available for free to storm-impacted individuals and families. Those wishing to pick up items must show ID. 

 

Monetary donations to The Salvation Army’s ongoing tornado-relief efforts may be made at salarmyomaha.org. 

Residents Can Receive Free P&G Essential Personal Care Products, On-Site Shower Services and Tide Loads of Hope Laundry Services at the Walmart in Omaha, Nebraska 

 

WHO:        Families, individuals, and responders in need of personal care items, cleaning products, laundry and shower services in the wake of devastating tornadoes and storms striking the Great Plains.  

 

WHAT:      P&G Disaster Relief is activating to support recovery efforts in Omaha, Nebraska, in collaboration with Walmart and Matthew 25: Ministries, an international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization.  

 

A Tide Loads of Hope Mobile Laundry Unit, powered by Matthew 25: Ministries, will provide free, full-service laundry to affected residents and responders. People can bring clothes (up to two loads per household) to be washed, dried, and folded free of charge. All washable clothing types will be accepted, except for heavy bedding.  

A shower trailer will be also available to provide residents with hot showers. The shower trailer has five private bathroom/shower units, one of which is ADA-compliant, and a Pampers diaper changing station. Individual personal care products, including shampoo, conditioner and body wash from P&G brands such as Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Olay and Old Spice, and freshly laundered towels will be available for use on-site. All units are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected following each use.    

 

In partnership with Matthew 25: Ministries, P&G will also distribute free personal care kits with everyday essentials, including cleaning products to meet basic hygiene and home care needs directly into impacted neighborhoods.* 

 

WHY:         Powerful tornadoes and storms struck the Great Plains, resulting in loss of life, injuries and damage to homes and communities.  

 

P&G, Walmart and Matthew 25: Ministries are working together to continue their commitment to help restore a sense of normalcy to communities most impacted by major disasters. Together, they assist people in need of clean laundry, showers and personal care items in communities recovering from major disasters. These services are free and available to local families and first responders while supplies last.  

 

WHERE:   Beginning on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, the team will collect laundry at the below location and time until daily capacity has been reached. The deployed disaster relief vehicle will also provide shower services, and the team will be distributing personal care kits, home care and cleaning supplies directly to the affected areas.  

 

Walmart, 16960 W. Maple Rd., Omaha, NE. 68116 

9am – 5pm CDT (or until daily capacity is reached) 

For the most up-to-date information, please visit Tide’s social channels:  

Tide: X account: @Tide and Instagram: @tidelaundry  

From Mayor Jean Stothert

City of Omaha employees will assist residents in the Ramblewood neighborhood in Elkhorn with disposal of construction debris. Ten large orange dump trucks and loaders, marked with the city seal on the doors, are available for disposal of wood, bricks, shingles, broken furniture, drywall and other household debris. This is a free service provided by the City of Omaha and will continue daily from 7:30am – 5:00pm until further notice. These items cannot be discarded in the trucks: tires, hazardous waste, waste oil, paint (dried paint is okay), lead-acid batteries, appliances or air-conditioners

Also - Waste Management has extended hours at the Pheasant Point Landfill, 13505 N. 216th Street, until 6:00pm each day through May 4.

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The Douglas County Health Department is working to protect those involved storm cleanup. The health department is holding a tetanus vaccine clinic through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Common Ground Community Center in Elkhorn.