United Way coordinating volunteers, donations after recent storms

Bathroom area, dugouts and bleachers were part of damage done at the Eldon School softball fields after a tornado swept through Eldon late Wednesday night, May 22, 2019.
Bathroom area, dugouts and bleachers were part of damage done at the Eldon School softball fields after a tornado swept through Eldon late Wednesday night, May 22, 2019.

Anyone needing help following recent flooding and tornadoes in Mid-Missouri should call 211.

The 211 service, provided by the United Way, will help victims reach people who can provide basic needs in the aftermath of recent storms - like food, shelter or utility assistance. Operators can help connect people with Medicaid, Medicare, prenatal care, children's health insurance programs, crisis intervention and many other services.

If unable to connect with an operator by dialing 211, call 800-427-4626.

Also, the American Red Cross will be setting up Multi-Agency Resource Centers in Jefferson City and Eldon later this week. Those centers offer disaster victims a place where they may reach relief agencies - private and public - in a "one-stop shop." Locations and contact information will be released later.

Additionally, people wishing to volunteer to help with cleanup efforts are encouraged to sign-up site at Capital Mall, 3600 Country Club Drive in Jefferson City. The site, in the old Sears wing, is open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. daily until further notice.

The United Way of Central Missouri has and continues to receive donations for victims of the storms. It will open a designated donation site that will begin operating from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday at the Capital West Christian Event Center, 1315 Fairgrounds Road in Jefferson City.

Items most in need at this point in the recovery are personal care products, paper goods and cleaning supplies.

People wishing to provide financial assistance to the United Way of Central Missouri's Disaster Recovery Fund should visit unitedwaycemo.org or redcross.org.

Monetary donations are being accepted 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the United Way office, 205 Alameda Drive in Jefferson City. Checks should be made to the United Way of Central Missouri or American Red Cross Central & Northern Missouri Chapter, with the note "Disaster Recovery" placed in the memo field.