Tornado relief opportunities for the Lipscomb community

On March 3 the Middle Tennessee area was hit by a series of tornadoes that brought destruction to five counties. A hallmark of the Lipscomb community is serving others. Find out how you can help.

Kim Chaudoin | 

Picture of a house destroyed by a tornado

In the early hours of Tuesday, March 3, a series of tornadoes left a path of destruction across five counties in Middle Tennessee causing significant destruction with key areas receiving damage including North Nashville, Germantown, East Nashville, Donelson and Mt. Juliet in the Nashville area and the Cookeville area in Putnam County. 

Not only are many homes, businesses, schools and other property in ruins, to date 25 people have lost their lives in the storms. While the Lipscomb campus remained safe through the storm, several employees and students lost their homes and belongings. The university is in the process of assessing the individual needs and ways to engage in providing service . 
 
Many have asked how to serve in relief efforts following the devastating storms in Nashville and the surrounding community. Al Sturgeon, vice president for student life, shared with the Lipscomb community several ways students, faculty and staff can get involved in tornado relief efforts. 

“Our hearts are heavy today as we continue to pray for everyone suffering as a result of the storm and as we seek to find ways to help. As we learn more information regarding the needs of our own Lipscomb family and as efforts continue, we will continue to update our community,” said Sturgeon. “One of the first things we can all do no matter where we are is to pray.”

Sturgeon suggested other ways the community can get involved including:  

Donate supplies. The Office of Student Life is coordinating a drive to collect several of the items identified as most needed in Nashville by Hands On Nashville. Specifically, the Lipscomb drive will collect baby food, baby formula, batteries and trash bags. Please bring those items to the Office of Spiritual Formation (bottom floor of Bennett Campus Center) next week between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, March 9-13.

Donate money. To donate money for tornado recovery efforts, please visit the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Donate labor. There are several ways to volunteer time: 

Other upcoming opportunities:

  • SALT Office cleanup effort with Tennessee State University. Contact christin.shatzer [at] lipscomb.edu (subject: Tornado%20relief%20effort%20with%20TSU) (Christin Shatzer) for more information. 
  • Lipscomb Missions over spring break with Churches of Christ Disaster Relief. Contact tyler.kemmerer [at] lipscomb.edu (subject: Churches%20of%20Christ%20Disaster%20Relief%20Spring%20Break%20Service) (Tyler Kemmerer )for more information.  

Donate blood. If you would like to help the American Red Cross by donating blood, visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter your zip code to find the nearest blood drive.

For members of the Lipscomb community who were adversely affected by this storm, please let us know:
Students: Contact the Office of Student Life at studentlife [at] lipscomb.edu (subject: Tornado%20Student%20Need) .
Faculty and Staff: Contact the Offic​e of Human Resources at email at hr [at] lipscomb.edu (subject: Tornado%20Employee%20Need) .