THE GIVER’S LEDGER MAY - Giving with Purpose: Tornado Relief, Climate Truth & Cultural Joy
First Published: NINA NEEDLEMAN | Volume I, Issue 3 | May 22, 2025
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
Storm Relief Organizations, Resources, and Funds
On May 16th, a large tornado, with wind speeds exceeding 140 mph and up to a mile wide, tore through parts of St. Louis, causing extensive damage to over 5000 buildings, downed trees This and power lines, and more. Most damage was experienced in poorer neighborhoods with most marginalized populations.
If you would like to donate and support:
Severe Storm/Tornado Relief Fund: This United Way of Greater St. Louis Fund will help with the immediate and long-term recovery efforts. All storm relief funds collected will be deployed in response to activities to this crisis and in partnership with Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) and Long-Term Recovery Committees (LTRC). Donate HERE.
Greater St Louis Community Foundation has 3 ways to donate to help:
St. Louis Disaster Relief Fund - provide gap funding from other community and public funding efforts.
City of St. Louis Tornado Response Fund – immediate and long-term rebuilding.
Gateway Early Childhood Alliance Fund – supporting early childhood centers affected.
More info and link to DONATE HERE
Other Resouces :
Non-English Language Tornado Support :
Gilberto Pinela, Director of Office of New Americans On-call -email: pinelag@stlouis-mo.gov
TechSTL is organizing efforts to help with tornado response.
They are mobilizing developers, designers and media creators to support grassroot crisis response, recovery needed by those impacted by the storm. Click on NEED TECH SUPPORT
WashU in St. Louis for St. Louis has created a recovery resource page for the WashU community highlighting volunteer opportunities and ways to support. Visit HERE.\
OTHER PHILANTHROPIC NEWS
A Small Way To Address The Topic of Climate Change
The Specific Issue: Recent news reported that the Trump administration dismissed 400 scientists working on the National Climate Assessment required by federal law, normally published every 4-5 years. This report is used to make big decisions ranging from storm sewer pipes to flood zone planning to air quality to wildfire risk and more.
The Encouraging Solution: Two major scientific societies will fill the gap and finish the cornerstone report.
The American Meteorological Society
The American Geophysical Union
Why It Matters: “Watering down or killing the national assessment will not keep the message about the importance of climate change from getting out”. “Storms and wildfires don’t care if it’s a red state or blue state”. “Climate change affects us all…. It doesn’t care how we vote”.
Consider a donation to support this, I did!
UPCOMING EVENTS
June is Pride Month
This is a month-long celebration, commemorating the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) culture and community. It started with Pride Marches on 1970. Officially proclaimed as Pride Month in 1999, it has broadened its reach to include transgender women and people of color.
What is the meaning of Pride Month? The annual recognition of Pride Month accomplishes two things: it’s a call for greater unity , visibility and equality for the LGBTQ community, as well as providing “an opportunity for the community to come together, take stock and recognize the advances and setbacks made in the past year. It is also a chance for the community to celebrate in a festive, affirming atmosphere.”
June 19 – Juneteenth or Black Emancipation day is a federal holiday in the US. It is celebrated annually to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States. The holiday harkens back to June 19, 1865, the day when Major General Gordon Ranger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the American Civil War. Juneteenth marks the delayed enforcement of emancipation in Texas, where slavery continued despite the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of the Civil War in April 1865.