Urgent: Nashville Tornado Response: Day One

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, Nashville suffered a tornado that left at least 22 dead and many homes destroyed.    

The damage from this deadly tornado extends from Nashville, through Mt. Juliet and Putnam County, with new information coming in hourly. Currently, Germantown, East Nashville, Lebanon, and the rural areas along I40 need our help and attention.

Our Nashville property at St. Paul's Lutheran Church was spared; however, our Germantown neighbors suffered significant damages. In Germantown, we are deeply concerned about the hunger needs of the vulnerable families and children without power. We are working closely with the SE Synod of the ELCA and Missouri Synods to expand our Hunger Relief programs at St. Paul's to include a daily lunch and access to food and water supplies for locals and responders. Our disaster team, under the watchful eye of Sherry Buresh, is already assembling and setting up base camp at Christ Lutheran Church to house 15-20 volunteers. Our corporate partners, Home Depot and Lowe's, are donating some limited tools and supplies, but we have many more needs for this response.

Our relief teams are planning to move in just as soon as it is safe to do so. However, we need your help as those vulnerable in the path of this storm will need additional resources and shelter. To that point, we are also collaborating with our friends at Lutheran Disaster Response, the Tennessee VOAD, the Southeastern ELCA Synod, and the Missouri Synod as we assess and prepare our short-term and long-term response and recovery work in Middle Tennessee.

Support our relief efforts by donating today. You'll be making a difference in the lives of those impacted by this latest natural disaster. 

To donate, click here and select Nashville 2020 Tornado. Our prayers are with everyone in this tornado's path.

Blessings to all our friends and family in Nashville!
- Virginia Spencer
Vice President of Development