The Greater Salem Area Foundation’s tornado relief fund for those impacted by the March 31st tornado on the south side of Salem has grown to $24,000.
The foundation was presented with $8,000 to help the victims Wednesday night from the Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce. Executive Director Jessiycka Coleman says the community pulled together to provide the help.
“Our community came together during our awards gala, the night after the storm so beautifully. 50 percent of those funds came from cash donations and check donations from the attendees of the Awards Gala. We were also able to donate all of our profits from the awards gala via tickets that were purchased and other donations from the chamber. We also had outside donations from City Hope Church in Centralia who reached out to us and Mission Salem.”
The foundation’s Melanie Johnson says help will soon be available to the tornado victims.
“We will send letters out to those homeowners who were affected. They will turn those in for the requested funds. We’ll look at the need and distribute based on the need.”
Johnson says letters will go out around June 1st to all of those on the city’s list of homes with damage. The foundation will also assist other victims of the storm within the Salem Community High School District.
Meanwhile, David Coryell, who serves as President of the Foundation as well as Salem Township Supervisor, says the township will also be providing grant assistance of up to a total of $10,000 to tornado victims who owned and occupied their homes. He says the size of the flat grants will depend on the number applying for assistance. Letters to those with known damage will also be sent out at the end of next week.
The assistance will come on top of property tax breaks being offered to property owners with tornado damage that can be applied for through the Marion County Supervisor of Assessments office.
