In the aftermath of the devastating storms that occurred throughout central Arkansas on April 27, many Arkansans are looking for ways to help out. Our team at Little Rock Soirée continue to update this list below on places accepting donations, what items are needed and other ways you can help.
Benefit concert:
“American Idol” winner Kris Allen will peform a benefit concert in his native Conway for tornado victims tomorrow night (May 9).
The concert will take place at Fellowship Bible Church, 1051 Hogan Lane, Conway. Tickets are $30, all proceeds and donations will go toward tornado relief efforts in Vilonia and Mayflower.
Tickets are available at Fellowship Bible Church, and at certain First Security Bank locations in Conway, Vilonia and Mayflower. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the concert starts at 7 p.m.
Where to donate:
The Red Cross is accepting donations at its website or by texting “red cross” to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Charges will apply to your next cell phone bill.
Donations can be made to the Salvation Army at their website or at (800) 725-2769. You can also text “STORM” to 80888 for a $10 donation.
The Arkansas Community Foundation has created an Emergency and Disaster Relief Fund to help victims of the disaster. Gifts made through the Disaster Relief Fund will be used to support organizations working on the ground in the affected communities during the relief and recovery efforts. There are two ways to contribute to the Emergency and Disaster Relief Fund.
- If you have a personal fund or endowment at the Community Foundation, you can recommend a grant from your fund to the Disaster Relief Fund. Use this form.
- If you do not have a personal fund at the Community Foundation, you can still support the Disaster Relief Fund with an online credit card gift. Click here to give online.
The Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) will donate any fines collected for overdue books from May 5 – May 12 to assist tornado victims. CALS’s donation will be directed to the Arkansas Community Foundation’s Emergency and Disaster Relief Fund. To participate, patrons may pay for fines with the librarians at the circulation desks, at self-check stations, or online. Anyone, whether they have overdue books or not, may donate to the program. Checks should be made payable to the CALS Endowment Fund with Tornado Relief Fund in the memo line. Click here to view list of libraries.
Dizzy’s Gypsy Bistro, 200 River Market Ave., Little Rock is hosting a “Tornado Relief-Friends and Family Night” Thursday (May 8) from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Half of the proceeds will donated to a family and The One Inc., which is the parent organization of The Van. A representative from The Valley Church will also be accepting cash donations for victims of the tornado. Click here for more information or call (501) 375-3500.
New Life Church is accepting donations at www.ardreamcenter.tv/tornado.
Donations to the Arkansas Rice Depot can be made by texting “FEED” to 74700 to make an immediate $5 or $10 donation. You can also go to www.ricedepot.org and click “GIVE TODAY.” Arkansas Rice Depot is also putting together Disaster Meal Kits. Click here to view what is needed.
The Arkansas Foodbank is accepting wanter and non-perishable food donations at its warehouse, 4301 W. 65th Street in Little Rock. For more information, click here.
The United Way of Central Arkansas, located in Conway, is also taking donations. Click here to view what is needed.
E. Leigh’s boutique has drop-off areas at their Little Rock, 2911 Kavanaugh Blvd., and Conway, 830 Front St., locations. Click here to see what is needed.
Pitza 42, located at 2335 Dave Ward Drive, is also collecting items for storm victims. Click here to see what is needed.
Items and meals for storm victims can now be dropped off at Christ Church. Items being accepted are: bottled water, Gatorade, food that can be eaten “as is.” The church asks you do not bring clothing or household items at this time.
Arkansas Big Brothers Big Sisters Donation Center says all clothing collected at any of the four Arkansas BBBS Donation Centers or any of the BBBS green bins around the state will be turned into cash for the victims of Sunday night’s storms. The Little Rock BBBS Donation Center is located at 1125 S. Broadway St. The clothing collection will continue at all bins and donation centers across across the state until May 10. For more information. including phone numbers to call to find out bins or donation centers near you, click here.
First Security Bank has set up an account for Arkansas communities affected by the storms. Bank locations across the state will accept the monetary donations for food, shelter and personal items for victims and volunteers. The bank will also accept items to send to the communities including blankets, tarps, gloves, first aid items, diapers, toothpaste, toothbrushes, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, flashlights, batteries, non-perishable food items, toiletries, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and new toys, coloring books and stuffed animals.
Belle & Blush is collecting donations for the Arkansas Food Bank. Drop off items and get 15 percent of your next purchase at the cosmetics and beauty supply store. Belle & Blush is collecting canned fruit, canned vegetables, canned meats, soups and bottled water. For more information, click here.
Verizon Wireless is providing device-charing stations for those affected in Mayflower and Vilonia, in addition to first responders. The stations also have on-site emergency phones and Wi-Fi capability.The stations are located at:
- Mayflower Middle School at 10 Leslie King Drive
- Plantation Acres Subdivision in Mayflower
- Vilonia City Hall at 18 Bise Street
- Beryl Baptist Church at 873 U.S. 64 B in Vilonia
- Wal-Mart at 1155 Skyline Drive in Conway
- Best Buy at 600 Elsinger Blvd. in Conway
The stations will be open 10 a.m. to dusk or as long as the communities need the services.
In addition, Verizon has announced overage charges for voice, data and text use for the entire month of May will be waived for customers in the impacted areas around Mayflower and Vilonia. That includes ZIP codes 72034, 72032, 72106 and 72173.
McCain Mall and Union Rescue Mission are partnering to provide relief efforts to residents in Central Arkansas that have been affected by the recent tornadoes. Volunteers from Union Rescue Mission will be stationed in the store space located on the lower level between GNC and Maurice’s, and will be collecting needed items now through May 10, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Individuals or businesses can also make monetary donations or purchase Visa or American Express gift cards at Simon Guest Services (near Regal Cinema) to donate to relief efforts. Activation fees may be applicable to gift cards.
Items needed:
- Water
- Non-perishable canned/packaged foods
- Children and adult clothing
- Diapers
- Baby formula
- Baby bottles
- Baby wipes
- Soap
- Hand Sanitizer
- Bath towels
- Hand towels
- Washcloths
- Blankets
- Pillows
- Personal hygiene items
- Small board games and cards
Those interested in donating furniture can contact the Union Rescue Mission at (501) 370-0808 to schedule a pick-up or delivery. All donations will receive a receipt for a tax reduction.
Pets:
The Arkansas Lost and Found Pet Network has set up a Facebook group for owners and finders of lost and found pets from the April 27 tornado. Join the group here.
CARE is accepting pet food donations through its new Paws in the Pantry program. The organization has delivered more than 1,500 pounds of pet food to displaced pets and families in Mayflower. Click here for more information.
The Humane Society of Pulaski County is collecting dog and cat food, water, food bowls, pet beds, collars, leashes,etc. for pets of tornado victims. Wire pet crates are especially needed. Livestock items like lead ropes, halters, etc. are needed also. Donations are accepted at its shelter, 14600 Colonel Glen Rd. For more information, call (501) 227-6166 or visit: http://www.WarmHearts.org.
Shelters:
Multiple shelters have been set up across the areas that were affected the most by the storms. KATV mentioned the following places have shelters in Faulkner County:
Mayflower Middle School: 17 Leslie St.
Mayflower High School Gym: 10 Leslie King Drive
Beryl Baptist Church: 873 U.S. 64 in Vilonia
Arkansas District Pentecostal Church of God: Vilonia
Antioch Baptist Church: 150 Amity Road in Conway
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church: 1115 College Ave. in Conway
Oak Bowery Baptist Church: 889 Otto Road in Conway
Point of Grace: 767 U.S. 64 B in Conway-Vilonia area
In Pulaski County, the Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center, at 1720 Ferncliff Rd., is also opened as a shelter.
Little Rock Soirée and our sister publication, Arkansas Business, will continue to keep you posted on relief efforts as new information becomes available.