My wife and I debated moving to our safe space as we sat in bed watching tv and scrolling our phones for weather specifics. After all, it was 3:00 am, and we might not ever get the kids to go back to sleep if we woke them up. We did jar them from their sleep and hustled down to our basement area. Thankfully, they were all back asleep in their own beds about an hour later as the storms had moved passed us leaving us with just a couple of trees down and the top of our treehouse blown away.
We learned a lesson Friday night, err on the side of caution during bad weather when the news anchors are telling you to seek your safe place. Better safe than sorry goes the expression. Those safe spaces saved countless lives Friday night across Kentucky and Tennessee.
It’s a sad and difficult time for so many as they grieve the losses of loved ones and precious personal property unable to be replaced. Still many more are trying to figure out how to rebuild, replace or restore their property. We will all have a chance to help in one way or another and the outpouring of support will remind us that humanity is good and people really do care about one another. Differences between us will be put aside as we stretch to aid one another during this time of great loss and great need.
Below is a list (certainly not a complete one) of avenues where you can show your support. Additionally, we would like you to make our office aware if you know of a specific need that hasn’t been met.
Gov. Andy Beshear has established a fund to assist tornado victims and begin rebuilding. Donate at secure.kentucky.gov/formservices/Finance/WKYRelief or by sending a check to Public Protection Cabinet, 500 Mero St., 218 NC, Frankfort, KY 40601.
American Red Cross
Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or text REDCROSS to 90999.
Aspire Appalachia
Send donations to paypal@aspireappalachia.org or PO Box 1255, Jackson, KY 41339.
Kentucky Counseling Center
The organization is collecting donations that counselors and social workers in Graves County will distribute to affected families. Donate at kentuckycounselingcenter.com/mayfield-fund/.
Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund
The University of Kentucky College of Medicine has established a GoFundMe page collecting donations at gofundme.com/f/ukcom-student-effort-for-tornado-relief-in-ky.
Kentucky Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters
Visit kentuckyvoad.org/.
Mayfield Graves County Tornado Relief
Mayfield-Graves County United Way has set up a GoFundMe to collect donations at gofundme.com/f/mayfield-graves-county-tornado-relief. Find other verified fundraisers at gofundme.com/c/act/tornado-outbreak-fundraisers.
Marshall County Fund
The Marshall County Nonprofit Foundation has established a Venmo account to take funds at @MCNPF.
Mercy Chefs
The nonprofit that serves meals following natural disasters has set up at His House Ministries, 1250 KY-303, Mayfield, Kentucky, and will distribute food over the next few days. Donate funds at https://mercychefs.com/donation.
Relevant Church
The church in Mayfield, Kentucky, is taking donations for a tornado relief fund at wearerelevant.churchcenter.com/giving/to/mayfield-tornado-relief.
Rise and Shine
The mutual aid group in Bowling Green is taking donations through Venmo at @riseandshinebgky.
Salvation Army
Visit helpsalvationarmy.org and donate to the Salvation Army Western KY Disaster Relief Fundraiser on Facebook.
United Way of Kentucky
The agency has set up a donation site specifically for tornado victims. Visit uwky.org/tornado.
Western KY Tornado Victims
Bremen resident Courtney Cozee has established a GoFundMe at gofundme.com/f/western-ky-tornado-vitamins.
Also attached is this week’s Weekly Market Review which contains some timely information regarding inflation, the market, and the Build Back America bill currently in the Senate. Notable Number four details the statistic that underscores why adults 65 and older should do what they can to protect themselves from COVID-19. As always, we hope you find the Weekly Market Review informative and interesting.
Click Here for the Weekly Market Review
Sincerely,
Trevor N. Coe, CFP®