The first gifts from the Woodmore Fund to the immediate families of children involved in the Woodmore school bus tragedy on Nov. 21 are in progress.
The Woodmore Fund is a coordinated effort between the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga and United Way of Greater Chattanooga to offer gifts of love and support to families affected by the Woodmore school bus tragedy.
“The Fund represents a gift of love from members of our community and people around the country to the families,” said Lakweshia Ewing, spokesperson for the Woodmore Fund and Community Foundation board member. “No amount of money can ever compensate for the trauma each family is suffering. Instead, gifts from the Fund are one of the many ways our whole community is reaching out to demonstrate love and offer support.”
Each of the immediate families of the children involved in the accident will receive a disbursement from the fund once they have completed the required paperwork. Community liaisons and Community Foundation staff are working with each family to support them through the process, according to Community Foundation President Maeghan Jones.
“Our community’s outpouring of love and support for the families is tremendous,” Ms. Jones said. “Beyond gifts made to the Fund, dozens of organizations across the Chattanooga area are working closely to offer as many resources as possible to the families to help them through this difficult time.”
In addition to Community Foundation staff and resources, United Way’s 2-1-1 and Neediest Cases, Metropolitan Ministries, local foundations and other nonprofits and local businesses have also joined together to offer help with immediate needs as well as longer-term support including counseling and financial advising should the families want or need it.
The Woodmore Fund committee consulted with national disaster and relief fund experts to understand best practices for distributing gifts from the Fund.
“Most important of all, the Woodmore Fund committee has worked, and continues to work, very closely with church leaders and Woodmore community leaders to ensure the most appropriate approach to distributing gifts from the Fund to the families,” said Lakweshia Ewing.
More than 2,000 individuals and organizations throughout the greater Chattanooga area and across the country have contributed to the Woodmore Fund to date.
Fundraising efforts are continuing through Dec. 31 with plans for a second distribution prior to the holidays.
Donations from individuals, companies and organizations to the Woodmore Fund are welcome in any amount. Checks can be made payable to the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga with “The Woodmore Fund” in the memo. Checks can be dropped off or mailed to: Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, Attn: Woodmore Fund, 1270 Market St., Chattanooga, TN 37402.
Checks can also be made payable to United Way of Greater Chattanooga with “The Woodmore Fund” in the memo. Checks can be dropped off or mailed to: United Way of Greater Chattanooga, Attn: Woodmore Fund , 630 Market St. , Chattanooga, TN 37402.
Text Woodmore to 91999 or call 2-1-1 (423-265-8000) to give by phone or give online at hcde.org/woodmore.