Janice R. Andrews
The Portage Foundation and Portage County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) are still soliciting donations for local disaster relief in the wake of the destructive tornado that hit Windham, Ohio, on April 17. To help those affected by the EF-1 tornado, they have announced an extension of the donation deadline, which is now set for August 16.
When the tornado made landfall on April 17, it seriously damaged the town. Thirty-four homes were assessed by the Portage County EMA, five of which were entirely damaged. These houses were either lifted off their foundations or had their roofs removed. Only one house was severely damaged; the other homes were classified as “affected,” meaning they only had minimal damage.
Actions for Aid and Contributions
Following the tragedy, the Portage Foundation and the EMA started gathering money for the Portage County Disaster Relief Fund right away. When major calamities strike Portage County, the Portage Foundation acts as the main point of contact for financial donations.
Contributions by credit card can be made via the foundation’s Facebook page or Donation Page.
Residents in Windham who lost property due to the tornado can request for aid via the Portage Foundation website. Additionally, the application deadline has been extended to August 16. You can acquire paper applications by calling 330-470-8950 for the Portage Foundation or 330-297-3607 for the Portage County EMA.
Means of Contribution
Make checks payable to The Portage Foundation and write “Windham Tornado” on the memo line of the check. The Portage Foundation, P.O. Box 623, Kent, OH 44240 is where you can submit these checks. Donations in cash or checks made out to the Portage County Disaster Relief Fund can also be left at any branch of the Portage Community Bank.
The distribution of funds will be supervised by the Donations Coordinating Team, which consists of officials from Windham Township, the Portage Foundation, the Portage EMA, and other nearby organizations. Based on the available donations, this team will decide who is eligible and how much money to allocate to provide as much aid as possible. Five percent of the donations will go toward the non-profit foundation’s operations related to distribution and administration.
Response from the Community and Continual Work
The deadline for donations has been extended, highlighting the continued need for resources and assistance for the impacted residents. The community, EMA, and the Portage Foundation working together is essential to Windham’s recovery from the tornado that struck on April 17. These organizations’ commitment guarantees that all donations be used wisely to repair and improve the lives of people affected.
The Portage Foundation and the EMA are pleading with the community and beyond to keep up their donations as the August 16 deadline draws near. No matter how small, every donation will have a big impact on Windham residents’ ability to recover.
The deadline for donations has been extended to August 16 to provide people who wish to support Windham disaster recovery efforts more time. The community can work toward repairing and restoring the homes and lives devastated by the April 17 tornado with the help of the Portage Foundation, the Portage County EMA, and the kind donations. Visit the Portage Foundation website or give them a call at the numbers listed for additional details on how to make a donation or apply for help.
