06/06/2024
We don't normally do this, but this story will be in next week's paper and we feel it's important enough that we are posting the entire story below now to help the area communities be informed of resources as we all recover from the tornado.
Greater Greenfield Community Foundation happy to help
The Greater Greenfield Community Foundation (GGCF) has a 40-year history of being there for their community in times of need, but the May 21 tornado is the first disaster the foundation has gone through.
Jennifer Garside, a spokesperson for the GGCF, says that as soon as the tornado had passed, the foundation's email began to be flooded by those wanting to help affected residents of this entire area monetarily. This includes individuals, corporations and other non-profits.
"Since the day after the tornado, we've received over 3,000 emails to our foundation's email account, and every single one of them, there's been no spam at all. People want to know how to make donations, or corporations are reaching out to us," Garside said. "Every single corporation that wants to give, they give us their packet and what we need to fill out [to receive those funds]. They're basically guaranteeing the funds, it's just super time consuming."
Garside and members of the foundation have been tasked with sifting through all those emails, responding to questions, and taking care of their own needs since the tornado.
It has been interesting to see the various ways people from other areas have given to tornado survivors here, Garside said. LA Fleet Week, which is an annual, multi-day celebration of the United States' sea services, where the U.S.S. Iowa is retired, gave to survivors here. The Iowa Cubs held a fundraiser at a recent baseball game. RAGBRAI riders familiar with Greenfield have given to survivors in this area. Many of Nodaway Valley's Pride of Iowa Conference mates have held fundraisers that have benefited this area's recovery.
"There are so many people who are donating. It's overwhelming and you can't remember them all," said Garside, a lifelong Adair County resident and a Greenfield resident of 35 years. "I get teary every time I talk about it. You don't get the kindness on the national news. You watch things and you usually only get the negative, but there's been so much kindness."
The GGCF developed an easy, front-and-back-page application for those who would like to receive funding from them after the tornado. Emergency Management has also used the application as an intake form because of how simple it is. It is available at www.greenfieldiafoundation.org to download and print and at various locations around the area. The same website can be used to give, or people can give at FNB or Union State Bank.
GGCF members have begun to sift through the applications, for their purposes. First priority is being given to immediate needs that are unmet, like health insurance deductibles, vehicle insurance deductibles and housing-related requests.
"You want to have a quick turnaround, but you have to do your due diligence. A lot of these people don't know yet what insurance is paying for. We've reached out to several communities who have dealt with this before and everybody says you really can't rush the process until you have all the facts," Garside said.
While you never want to have a disaster like this, Garside said it feels good that the Greater Greenfield Community Foundation can assist those who need the help.
"This is our first natural disaster. I kind of feel like that's what we were built for: to help," Garside said. "It's taking all hands on deck, that's for sure. There's been a lot of work and there will be a lot of work. We didn't know [we'd be needed for a] natural disaster, but I'm glad we were already in place."
