Tornado Relief - How NATA Members Can Help

From April 25-28, more than 200 confirmed tornadoes devastated areas of 21 states, hitting Alabama particularly hard. More than 300 people were killed, and damage estimates released in mid-May estimate the damage near $6 billion. While those people were recovering and trying to rebuild, a tornado wiped out a large section of Joplin, Mo., and killed more than 100 people. Several organizations are accepting donations to help in the recovery estimates.

Donation Options

Joplin Recovery:
University of Missouri athletic trainer Eric McDonnell, the incoming District Five Director, said that the American Red Cross Greater Ozarks Chapter is accepting donations to help the victims of this terrible storm, and a Facebook Recovery Page has been created to help people locate missing loved ones and to help identify those in need.

"After speaking to several of our members who work and live in Joplin at this time, we believe none of our members have died. We are still attempting to contact several more since there are more than 30 members in Joplin, and telecommunication is poor at this time. Several of our members have lost their homes." - Eric McDonnell

Missouri State University Helps Joplin: Missouri State University in Springfield, located about 75 miles from Joplin, has organized several ways to help the victims of the massive tornado that destroyed nearly a third of the city. In addition the MSU Athletic Training Student Association is coordinating donation collection efforts at the MoATA's State Meeting on June 4-5. MSU students will sort, pack and store all AT room supply donations until Joplin High School is ready to accept them. See other ways you can help by going through the Missouri State website.

Alabama ATEP:
The ATEP has established a gift account to which you can donate if you are interested in supporting them in restoring/replacing. To assist the ATEP athletic trainers and graduate assistants, make checks payable to “The University of Alabama,” and be sure to indicate in the memo area that it’s a gift to the Athletic Training Gift Account. Mail the check to:

Deidre Leaver-Dunn
P.O. Box 870311
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0311

or to

Jeff Allen
P.O. Box 870393
Tuscaloosa AL 35487-0393

United Way of West Alabama:
Text the word “RELIEF” to 50555 to donate $10 to the United Way of West Alabama. The donation will be added to your wireless bill. You may also mail your donation to “United Way of West Alabama, P.O. Box 2291, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403.” By calling 205-345-6640, you can donate over the phone. All money received until Aug. 31, 2011, will go directly to Alabama’s Tornado Relief Fund.

West Alabama Chapter of the American Red Cross:
The West Alabama chapter provides services to the residents of seven counties: Tuscaloosa, Pickens, Fayette, Lamar, Greene, Hale and Sumter. The Chapter has three locations, a main office in Tuscaloosa, and service centers in Lamar and Fayette counties. Click through to the “Our Services to the Community Page” to get details about their efforts. Donate online.

UA Acts of Kindness Fund:
The University of Alabama suffered a direct hit from a tornado, and members of the athletic training room pitched into to help despite its own facility damage. The UA Acts of Kindness Fund support an emergency-assistance program for UA employees and students. The UA Athletics Department already donated $1 million to this fund.

Sweet Home Fund:
The Sweet Home Fund is a designated fund of the Alma Foundation. The Foundation reports that 90 percent of all donations go directly to charities. Donate by sending a check to “Sweet Home Fund, C/O Bryant Band, 1550 McFarland Blvd. N, Tuscaloosa, AL 34406” or make an online donation.

NATA Think Tank Post
“The University of Alabama Athletic Training was directly impacted by the tornado (April 27) in Tuscaloosa; two athletic trainers and four GAs lost everything.”
-Mike Carroll, MEd, ATC, LAT
Head Athletic Trainer, Stephenville (Texas) HS
SWATA President

Join The Discussion on NATA’s Think Tanks
NATA has established a Think Tank to discuss relief efforts and identify those in the athletic training community in need of assistance.

Other NATA Efforts
NATA will be helping other organizations at this year’s 62nd NATA Annual Meeting & Clinical Symposia

Surplus Food
Surplus food from convention activities will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of New Orleans.

AmeriCares/Japan Disaster Relief
NATA is encouraging its members who wish to donate for Japan disaster relief to do so through AmeriCares, the Connecticut-based relief organization. Since its founding in 1982, AmeriCares has provided $10 billion to 147 countries in need. Japan is still recovering from an earthquake and tsunami last month off its northeast coast. NATA members can donate directly to AmeriCares.