Want to help people harmed by North Carolina’s powerful tornado? Here’s how.

The tornado that slammed into Nash and Edgecombe counties this week left injuries and lots of building damage in its wake.

Local organizations have set up efforts to help people putting the pieces back together. Want to help? Here’s how:

Twin County Tornado Recovery Fund

The Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce and United Way have partnered to create a relief fund for community members affected by the recent tornado.

The fund is called the Twin County Tornado Recovery Fund, which individuals and businesses can donate to.

“The recovery fund was set up to assist those who have been directly affected with property loss,” said David Farris, CEO of the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce, in a phone interview.

A United Way team has set up a vetting process to make sure the people applying for the funds qualify for aid and minimize the chances of fraud, said Farris.

To donate:

• Write checks to United Way Tar River Region with memo: Tornado Fund. Mail them to 100 Coastline Street, Suite 200, Rocky Mount NC 27804, with the words “tornado fund” in the memo.

• Donate online at their tornado fund website by clicking the button Donate to the Tornado Recovery Fund.

United Way

United Way Tar River Region is collecting names and phone numbers of volunteers willing to help to assemble teams who can clean areas with debris and damage caused by the tornado.

To volunteer:

• Call the United Way office at 252-937-2213 and leave your name and contact information. Note that you are interested in volunteering with tornado relief efforts. The office will respond with volunteering information.

Salvation Army

The N.E.W. Salvation Army of Nash, Edgecombe, and Wilson Counties is accepting donations at three locations. Items that can be donated:

• Bottled water

• Non-perishable food items

• Furniture

Locations to drop off donations.

• Rocky Mount: 2153 Lawrence Circle, Rocky Mount
• Tarboro: 134 River Oaks Dr, Tarboro, NC

• Wilson: 112 Hines St W, Wilson, NC

The sites will be open from 9 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday.

This story was originally published July 21, 2023 at 3:51 PM with the headline "Want to help people harmed by North Carolina’s powerful tornado? Here’s how.."

Andrea Tamayo

The News & Observer

Andrea Tamayo is covering science this summer as a 2023 AAAS Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellow. She has covered science with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and the University of Florida, where she graduated with degrees in microbiology and international studies.