As residents of Moore, OK, continue to rebuild following the EF5 tornado that swept through the area on May 20, Goodwill® agencies headquartered in Shreveport, LA; Wichita, KS; and Little Rock, AR, spearheaded relief efforts to generate material and financial donations to people impacted by the storm.
Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana
Multiplatinum-selling blues/rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd and DCF Concerts joined Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana (Shreveport) joined together last week for the “We Can Help Moore” relief effort to benefit people impacted by recent tornadoes in Moore, OK.
The Goodwill accepted donations from the Shreveport-area community between May 31-June 2, collecting three trucks worth of clothing and other items which are now on their way to Oklahoma.
Romney Guy, the Goodwill’s chief operating officer, explained, “We received so many donations from other Goodwills in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. We wanted to pay it forward and help the people of Oklahoma as they put their lives back together again.”
That same evening, Shepherd played a benefit concert at the Diamond Ballroom in Oklahoma City. Concert attendees paid $30 per ticket — with an option to purchase a VIP package for $100 — and all proceeds went to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.
“The We Can Help Moore effort is a way for us to aid a community that has been devastated by the tornadoes,” Shepherd said. “We have decided to donate all proceeds from the concert to The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and with the generosity of Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana, we can help those affected get back on their feet.”
Goodwill Industries of Kansas
In late May, Goodwill Industries of Kansas (Wichita) partnered with TV station KWCH and radio station KFDI to hold a donation drive benefiting Oklahoma tornado victims.
For every pound of clothing and household items donated at one of Goodwill’s 18 statewide locations, the partners donated $1 to the Oklahoma Strong Tornado Relief Fund, with a maximum donation amount of $20,000.
“Goodwill Industries of Kansas is excited to announce that we exceeded our goal of 20,000 pounds of donations,” said VP of Marketing and Development Amber Hendrix.
“The two-day drive brought in over 50,000 pounds of additional donated items. Goodwill and its partners will be sending $20,000 to the Oklahoma Strong Tornado Relief Fund on behalf of all our Goodwill donors.”
Goodwill Industries of Arkansas
Goodwill Industries of Arkansas (Little Rock) is asking people to help by donating specific items at nine stores in Little Rock, Bryant, Fayetteville and other parts of the state.
Donation boxes are put out for items like diapers, band-aids, flashlights, toothpaste, formula and other necessities. The drive started Saturday and ends on June 15th. They will be shipped to specific stores in Oklahoma closest to where the tornadoes hit.
This is the first drive of its kind for the Arkansa Goodwill since usually donations stay in-state.
“These are simple items that you might have laying around your house or just go to the store and pick up,” said Rebecca Brockman, spokesperson for Arkansas Goodwill.
