Sunday afternoon storms caused major damage in southeast Alabama, killing at least 22 and injuring many more. Widespread damage was reported and hundreds are without power in Lee and surrounding counties. Catastrophic damage was reported with hundreds of homes destroyed. Major recovery efforts are getting underway and shelters are established. A list of needed items will be updated as more information becomes available. Here’s how you can help: Volunteer facility opens, what’s needed A volunteer reception center will open tomorrow at 8 a.m. in Smiths Station Baptist Church at 2460 Lee Road 430. The facility will be open Wednesday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. CT and then 8 a.m.-5 p.m. after Wednesday. The facility will provide safety briefings and protective gear for volunteers, who will be matched with tasks based on capabilities. All unaffiliated volunteers, those not with EMA or any other agency, are asked to report to volunteer center on Wednesday. The Untied Way will be operating the center and providing volunteers with arm bands that will grant them access through check points. Donations of cleaning supplies, clothing infant care and canned goods are still needed. Donations can be taken to the Dream Center at 1103 North Donahue Drive in Auburn. Donations may also be taken to Lambert Transfer Storage, 1102 Foxtrail, Opelika, between 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Cash donations can still be made by accessing the redcross.org website and designating Lee County as the beneficiary. More from EMA: First Baptist Church of Opelika is offering two free bags of ice per day. A Red Cross shelter has opened at Providence Baptist Church. Supplies for Survivors will be available for distribution at Turner Fence Co 15447 AL Hwy 51 in Opelika. Available are non-perishable foods, cleaning supplies, blankets and pilots, tools and clothing. North Alabama fire department accepting donations Hazel Green Fire Department is gathering up donations for the families and first responders. The station is located on Joe Quick Road or call 256-828-0248 or 256-656-4268. Needed items include: Bottled water, granola bars, diapers, baby formula, baby wipes, hygiene products, soap, deodorant, and feminine hygiene products. Salvation Army arrives The #SalvationArmy has responded to the tornado outbreak in Lee County, #Alabama that spawned EF4 tornadoes and killed more than 20 individuals. https://t.co/j6x9kGg56s@SalvationArmyUS @SalArmyEDS pic.twitter.com/31t61irWUM — The Salvation Army (@salarmychicago) March 5, 2019 List of churches other organizations accepting donations #AlabamaTornadoes Here’s how you can help #AlabamaStrong #alpolitics Thank you to these businesses, churches and groups who are helping pic.twitter.com/ij1FSqfwNo — Terry Lathan (@ChairmanLathan) March 4, 2019 Job assistance Governor Kay Ivey Opelika, Alabama The Opelika-Auburn News @opelika Posted by Alabama Department of Labor on Monday, March 4, 2019 Bags of ice Lee County Residents affected by the storms of March 3, 2019 are eligible for bags of ice. Each household can collected 2 bags of ice per day from the distribution center located at First Baptist Church Opelika.... https://t.co/luL449kT97 — Lee County EMA (@LeeCountyEOC) March 5, 2019 GoFundMe There are several GoFundMe campaigns set up to help victims’ families. The online crowdfunding platform’s landing page for the Alabama and Georgia tornadoes can be found here: https://www.gofundme.com/cause/alabama-georgia-tornadoes Airbnb Airbnb has activated its Open Homes Program (http://airbnb.com/leecountytornadoes) to help local residents displaced and relief workers deployed to Lee County. The program recruits hosts who are willing and able to provide free housing to displaced residents and disaster relief workers in the area for any length of time between March 4 and March 25 and is active in Southeast Alabama and Southwest Georgia, including in Columbus, Albany, Montgomery, Greenville and Selma. United Way of Central Alabama The United Way of Central Alabama is joining with the United Way of Lee County to establish a secure site so that donations can be made to tornado victims. To help with the rescue and recovery, go to https://www.uwca.org/helpleecounty/ Telethon WBRC Fox6 News, WVTM 13 and other networks are teaming with the Alabama Broadcasting Association to host “Together for Alabama” tornado relief telethon. The telethon is being held in partnership with the Birmingham Salvation Army and American Red Cross. The telethon will be held all day on Wednesday, March 6. All donations made during the telethon will go directly to relief efforts in Lee County and surrounding communities. The number to call is (205) 583-4303. Only monetary donations will be accepted. To make an online donation to the Birmingham Salvation Army, click here. To make an online donation to the American Red Cross click here. Donation sites The following locations only will be accepting donations at this time. Trinity United Methodist Church-all supplies 800... Posted by Lee County, Alabama Emergency Management Agency on Monday, March 4, 2019 Victim’s fund It is with great sadness that we tell our College of Veterinary Medicine community that David Thornton, a pharmacy... Posted by Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine on Monday, March 4, 2019 Supplies full for now We would like to say thank you to everyone for donating supplies and time. At this time our facilities for supply donations are full. We would like for everyone to hold off on taking donations to the drop off center... https://t.co/bbZBrcoBLk — Lee County EMA (@LeeCountyEOC) March 4, 2019 Disaster recovery funds Long Term Recovery Fund has been set up by Community Foundation of East Alabama. List as Lee County Diaster Fund contact number 334-744-1020 or email info@cfeastalabama.org — Lee County EMA (@LeeCountyEOC) March 4, 2019 American Red Cross American Red Cross is offering its contact service so families displaced by the storm can find loved ones. For immediate assistance, call Red Cross at 1-334-749-9981 or go here. Donations can also be made at Red Cross of East Alabama here. Contact Loved Ones https://t.co/tGYzeq48nW — LeeCo Sheriff AL (@lcsoal) March 4, 2019 The Red Cross has a shelter set up at Providence Baptist Church in Opelika offering food, water and counseling. Governor’s Relief Fund If you would like to help Alabamians affected by the recent tornadoes and flooding, you can do it via the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund. Salvation Army The Salvation Army is sending a full Incident Command Team to Opelika to assist with the tornado recovery. Major William Shafer from The Salvation Army Tuscaloosa Corps will arrive today to serve as the Incident Commander. He will be supported by a six member team of Salvation Army representatives from Anniston, Birmingham, Montgomery and Jackson, Mississippi. The Salvation Army Lee County Service Center has already provided 200 meals to first responders. Service delivery will continue throughout Lee County today and include the distribution of hot meals, snacks, and beverages served from six mobile feeding units. Other than Montgomery, the mobile feeding units are deploying into the area from Anniston, Birmingham, and Biloxi, Mississippi. Convoy of Hope Convoy of Hope’s Disaster Services Team deployed Sunday night from Springfield, Missouri, and made its way to Lee County. A tractor trailer load of supplies has also arrived. Additional personnel and equipment are on standby. Follow the response at convoyofhope.org. Free storage U-Haul of central Alabama and southern Georgia is offering 30 days of free self storage and U-Box container uses for victims of the tornadoes. Two U-Haul facilities have been made available to provide disaster relief. Families seeking additional information or needing to arrange for 30 days free self-storage should contact the nearest participating facility: U-Haul Moving & Storage of Auburn 1301 Opelika Road Auburn, AL 36830 (334) 887-3412 U-Haul Moving & Storage at 10th Ave. 930 10th Ave. Columbus, GA 31901 (706) 324-4336 Finding loved ones You can also check on loved ones here. Collection at Auburn High School Donation collections Drop off locations for supplies. Greater Peace Baptist Church-Perishable supplies Church of the Highlands: Dream Center-any supplies from 6-11 Goree's Furniture- any furniture, will pick up if needed contact number 334-742-0607 — Lee County EMA (@LeeCountyEOC) March 4, 2019 Samaritan’s Purse We are responding to Lee County, Alabama after Sunday's devastating tornadoes ripped through the South, resulting in the... Posted by Samaritan’s Purse U.S. Disaster Response on Monday, March 4, 2019 LifeSouth blood donations East Alabama Medical Center receives blood from LifeSouth. The hospital reported it was supplied Sunday but asked for donations on Monday. The LifeSouth blood center in Opelika is at 5431, 505 E Thomason Cir, Opelika, AL 36801. Lost pets Church of the Highlands The state’s largest church is mobilizing volunteers. A message from Pastor Chris: My heart breaks hearing the report that today’s tornadoes took at least 14 lives in our... Posted by Church of the Highlands on Sunday, March 3, 2019 The Auburn Dream Center, located at 1103 Donahue Drive, will be open Monday from 6 a.m.-11 a.m. to help victims. Items collected will be: bottled water, granola bars, diapers, baby formula, baby wipes, hygiene products (soap, deodorant, feminine hygiene products.) Smith Station shelter Smith Station Volunteer Fire Department Station #1 50 Lee Rd #430, Smiths Station, AL 36877 is being designated as the area for citizens affected by the storms today to seek assistance with sheltering or other unmet needs. Opelika Animal Hospital Opelika Animal Hospital is offering boarding services for displaced animals at no charge. You can find contact information here. University of Alabama The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, one of the locations hit by the deadly 2011 tornadoes, is pledging its support to storm victims.<doc-sep>As of Monday morning, 23 people were killed after a tornado devastated Lee County and the Beauregard area. Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said Monday's primary focus was search and rescue. Meanwhile, organizations and groups have formed donation centers. Please consider supporting the journalism you count on every day by subscribing here. Follow along by following us on Facebook and Twitter. Here's how to help. You can also call 211 to offer specific items or services, which will then be matched to a list of needs. Where to donate supplies Greater Peace Baptist Church Perishable supplies Goree's Furniture Any furniture. Will pick-up if needed. Call 334-742-0607 Beulah High School Coaches and athletes are collecting supplies They are football rivals of Smiths Station and Beauregard Southern Souls Animal League The Eufaula animal clinic and shelter was hit and is desperately looking for homes for the animals Donate to help by visiting the gofindme page How to volunteer Sanford Middle School Lee County Sheriff's Office is hosting local volunteer rescue efforts. Stop by SMS for direction on where volunteers and search and rescue personnel are needed most American Red Cross Contact the Red Cross at 205-704-1777 and ask for the volunteer coordinator More:Red Cross finds devastation in east Alabama What groups are donating? Auburn University staff and faculty are donating care packages for Smiths Station at 331 Tichenor Hall through Tuesday. If you know of other ways to help and would like to be featured, email us at newstips@montgomeryadvertiser.com.<doc-sep>
Two Tuscaloosa businesses are partnering to host a tornado relief drive after storms on Sunday killed at least 23 people in Lee County. Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa and Julio Jones Kia Mazda are hosting the ‘Tide for Tigers’ Tornado Relief Drive this week, Townsquare Media announced Monday morning. Members of the media company’s seven radio stations and Julio Jones Kia Mazda employees will be on site all week at the car dealership’s showroom to accept donations. The group is asking for toiletries, diapers, cleaning supplies, and non-perishable food items. Cash donations can also be taken to the Julio Jones Kia Mazda showroom. Townsquare Tuscaloosa’s operating manager Meg Summers said she was mourning the victims of Sunday’s storms and asked everyone in Tuscaloosa to donate to the relief drive. “Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones or saw damage to their homes and businesses in East Alabama Sunday,” Summers said. “So many in Lee County and the Auburn area came together to help us when a tornado devastated Tuscaloosa in 2011 and this is our chance to return their kindness with some of our own.” A box truck donated by Premier Service Company, Inc. will be on site at the dealership-- located at 4301 Greensboro Avenue--accepting donations through Friday. Townsquare Media is also working to establish a donation fund at a local bank. Other agencies across the state have also set up donation funds or other ways to assist those affected by the tornadoes. Here’s how you can help. See AL.com’s full coverage of the tornado aftermath