In light of the deadly tornado ripping through Nashville and Middle Tennessee early Tuesday morning, Lipscomb students are left wondering, “How can I help?”
Christin Shatzer and Al Sturgeon offer a few suggestions.
Shatzer, associate professor of general education and director of Lipscomb’s SALT program (Service And Learning Together), suggests students sign up with Hands on Nashville or the United Way of Greater Nashville to be involved with relief efforts. These charitable organizations, alongside others, offer means of donating both time and funding towards Nashville’s tornado disaster recovery efforts.
Hands on Nashville works closely with the city of Nashville and the Office of Emergency Situations to collect and distribute funds for disaster management, as well as offer an easy online sign up for anyone looking to volunteer towards clean up and recovery.
“Typically in any disaster response the best way to help is through monetary donation,” Shatzer said. “City leaders are suggesting that financial donations be made to the Community Foundation to help with disaster relief efforts.”
Another alternative offered to aid the city of Nashville and those affected by the tornado is prayer, something Lipscomb placed a large emphasis on at The Gathering on Tuesday.
“When we learned of the terrible losses in our local community, we decided to cancel our scheduled speakers at The Gathering because we felt it appropriate that we simply gather together and pray,” said Sturgeon, vice president of student life and dean of students.
Sturgeon encourages students to email Student Life with prayer requests for anyone they may know who has been affected by the tornado.
“In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, one of the best things to do is to stay out of the way of the first responders,” Sturgeon said. “And as we pray, we wait and listen for the opportunities where we can serve.”
As during previous Nashville disasters, the community is coming together in many ways to help each other out.
“It’s amazing to see the people coming here to help each other — some people giving food, some bringing water — and everybody is coming and helping pitch in which is very good,” said Nashville resident Amir Karshenas. “It also shows that people can do the things more before disaster comes, and we can prevent some of this by putting back into nature.”
Tony Evans lives on Cheatham place in Germantown, one of the hardest-hit areas in Nashville. Evans compared the sound of the tornado coming to the sound of a train and then the noises of his roof being ripped off as someone “breaking in.”
“It’s just one of those things when everybody gotta come together,” said Evans. “God is still good. He’s a protector. He’s a provider.
“We’ve just have to continue to come together and get in prayer because you never know about tomorrow,” said Evans. “But we know who holds tomorrow.”
Here are more ways you can help those affected by the disaster:
The Nashville EOC/OEM has donation areas open at 218 Omohundro Place, or you can call the office at 615-291-6688.
Here you can donate to the Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund. It will accept donations, but no clothing will be accepted at this time.
Photos and additional reporting by Mckenzi Harris.
